spirit of mischief seized him.

"How about that other toast we drank that night, Monty?"

Huntington put his arm around Merry's waist and drew her closer to him.

"It stands!" he replied with smiling defiance. "To Marian--little
Marian--God bless her!"

"You rascal! You slipped it over on me!"

"Well, good-bye, people!" Edith interrupted.

"Stay for supper," Mrs. Thatcher urged.

"No; here it is five o'clock and the wedding breakfast hasn't been
served yet. We're off!"

"It is pitiful to see you kidnapped like this," Marian teased her.

"Oh, well!" she looked slyly up into her husband's face. "Connie's not a
bad sort as men go, and I'm game to take a chance."

"Isn't she the best ever?" Cosden cried proudly. "I'm strong for the
Benedicts and the Benedictines! Hurry up, Monty,--go and do likewise!"

They were off like a whirlwind, then all returned to Hamlen on the
piazza. The two boys had stayed with him while the farewells were spoken
at the door. Billy felt a bond of sympathy at last, for he too had
suffered from the perfidy of woman! Philip was genuinely fond of
Hamlen, and the older man clung to his friendship with even greater
tenacity since this return to his normal condition.

"We are talking war," Hamlen explained to Marian as they returned to
him. "These boys are eager to see what is going on over there."

"So we've heard," she replied, smiling indulgently. "They have presented
the case to us from as many angles as a certain manufacturer has
varieties of pickles."

"It would be a wonderful object lesson," Hamlen said meditatively. "Even
to read about it makes our own troubles insignificant; what an
opportunity, if on the spot, to give out from one's own personality, and
thus demonstrate the teachings of the humanists in practical fashion!"

The idea seemed to take possession of him, and his rigid figure and set
features so clearly betrayed the workings of a strong emotion that no
one interrupted him. At length he turned abruptly.

"Huntington!" he cried.

His friend stepped quickly to his side.

"I believe this war was started especially for me!" he declared.

"For you?" Huntington echoed, surprised.

"Why isn't this my opportunity? Here I am, longing for the chance to
express myself in doing something for some one else. I haven't a tie in
the world to keep me from going over there. I have money which couldn't
be devoted to a better cause, and I speak the languages like a native."

"By