st Hamlen's apprehensions carried him too far.

The opportunity to satisfy himself came to Huntington the day after his
guests arrived. They had motored down the North Shore and back to the
Club for lunch on a bright Sunday morning which seemed prepared
especially to show Boston's environs off to best advantage; and as they
strolled about the Club grounds he found himself paired off with Mrs.
Thatcher.

The evening before had developed nothing of any moment. The two boys
rushed in after dinner, completely monopolized the situation for such
time as they were present, and then dashed off to keep a college
engagement. Things were too "thick," Billy explained to Merry, to have a
real visit. Thatcher seemed worn out and asked the indulgence of his
host to permit his early retiring; Mrs. Thatcher was happy and
complacent, rejoicing in the change she found in Hamlen and grateful to
her ally for having brought it about; Merry appeared strangely quiet,
but even if her presence had been wholly silent it would have seemed a
benediction to Huntington, whose sentiments no one suspected, and on
whom all depended for the expression of their individual purposes.
Huntington smiled grimly to himself as he recalled Hamlen's
matter-of-fact assumption that love had never entered into his life; he
even questioned whether his friend's self-imposed restraint was more
difficult than the repression of his own emotion!

After luncheon they walked out onto the golf links, Huntington and
Marian finding a retreat in one of the thatched-roof shelters from which
they could command an extended view on all sides. Thatcher and Hamlen
had fallen behind, following Merry, who was eager to secure a better
idea of the earlier holes in the course. Marian seated herself and then
looked up into Huntington's face with an expression of complete
satisfaction.

"It is simply wonderful!" she exclaimed.

"It is a fine course--"

"I'm not thinking of the course," she interrupted. "What you have done
with Philip Hamlen is simply wonderful!"

"You must give your boy his share of the credit; his influence over
Hamlen is no less than mine."

"I am glad my son could do something toward paying his mother's debt,"
she replied feelingly. "Now if you and I can complete the work I shall
feel that restitution has been amply made."

"You refer to your daughter?"

"Yes; if I can see Merry married to Philip Hamlen I shall be blissfully
content."

Huntington did not re