her point when she
learned that Miss Felicia had left her card the next day, expressing to
the potato-bug how sorry she was to hear that the ladies were out, but
that she hoped it would only be a matter of a few days before "she
would welcome them" to her own apartments, or words to that effect,
Frederick's memory being slightly defective.

It was in answer to this request that Mrs. Breen, after consulting
her husband, had written three acceptances before she was willing that
Frederick should leave it with his own hands in Fifteenth Street--one
beginning, "It certainly is a pleasure after all these years"--which
was discarded as being too familiar; another, "So good of you, dear
Miss Grayson," which had a similar fate; and the third, which ran, "My
daughter will be most happy, dear Miss Grayson, to be with you," etc.,
which was finally sealed with the Breen crest--a four-legged beastie of
some kind on its hind legs, with a motto explanatory of the promptness
of his ancestors in times of danger. Even then Corinne had hesitated
about accepting until Garry said: "Well, let's take it in, anyhow--we
can skip out if they bore us stiff."

Knowing these things, therefore, and fearing that after all something
would happen to mar the pleasant relations he had established with
Peter, and with the honor of his uncle's family in his keeping, so
to speak, Jack had awaited the arrival of Corinne and Garry with
considerable trepidation. What if, after all, they should stay
away, ignoring the great courtesy which this most charming of old
ladies--never had he seen one so lovable or distinguished--had extended
to them; and she a stranger, too, and all because her brother Peter had
asked her to be kind to a boy like himself.

The entrance of Corinne and Garry, therefore, into the crowded room half
an hour after his own had brought a relief to Jack's mind (he had
been watching the door, so as to be ready to present them), which Miss
Felicia's gracious salutation only intensified.

"I remember your dear mother perfectly," he heard the old lady say as
she advanced to Corinne and took both her hands. "And she was quite
lovely. And this I am very sure is Mr. Breen's friend, Mr. Minott, who
has carried off all the honors. I am delighted to see you both. Peter,
do you take these dear young people and present them to Ruth."

The two had thereupon squeezed through to Ruth's side; Peter in his
formal introduction awarding to Garry all the hono