reary because she had chosen the wrong
jewels?

_Diana, Diana, Diana_, would his mind never leave her?

Then as if his thought had brought her, he heard her voice upon the
stairs.

"May I come up? I rang, but no one answered."

"The bell is broken." He hurried out into the hall, and watched her
ascend, with her arms full of white lilacs, her gray eyes shaded by a
white veil thrown back from a broad hat, and around her throat the
inevitable string of pearls.

"I've come to bring some of my flowers to your little Betty child, and
to get her answer to my note."

She was smiling now, smiling at him, and at Bettina, who had come
forward timidly.

Diana laid the lilacs on the table, and drew the girl into her arms.
"When shall it be, my dear? It seems such a perfect plan to me. The big
house isn't finished. You can't go into it until fall, and I can help
you get things ready. What do you think, Anthony?"

"I don't know. I'll leave it to your wisdom."

"Then I am sure it will be best," she responded cheerfully, "and now,
why not to-morrow?"

"I haven't anything to wear," Bettina stated, anxiously.

"There's a sewing woman at the house, and Sophie and I have brought lots
of things from Paris."

"Really? And will you tell me all about your trip?"

"Sophie will tell you. She's the talker. I like to listen--Anthony knows
that."

If she had meant to stab him by reviving old memories, she succeeded.
How he had missed the responsiveness which had spurred him on to talk
his best only his hurt heart knew. It had been her belief in him, which
had supplemented his ability, and had brought him success, and he knew
it and she knew it, and now Bettina was to try to play that inspiring
part.

Nothing of his thought showed, however, in his impassive countenance. He
stood up and held out his hand.

"My old man with the pneumonia is waiting," he said, "and you'll want to
visit a bit with Bettina."

"But there's one thing," he continued hurriedly "that I'd like to speak
of before I leave--to have settled. Do you think it will be wise to make
a public announcement of our engagement?"

"Why not?" sharply.

Bettina glanced from one to the other, conscious of some undercurrent of
feeling which she did not share.

"It's just this way," said Anthony, slowly; "if Bettina could meet your
friends and mine, under your auspices, chaperoned by you, they would
discover her charms and loveliness," he smiled at the girl, "and they'd