he news, but he didn't know just how
I came to go to Chicago cago to bring Marian home. It was to keep the
news of that automobile smash from Mrs. Bassett, and to save Marian's
own dignity with the Willings."

"Oh! You went at her father's instance, did you?"

"Yes. I offered to go when I found that he was very angry and likely to
deal severely and ungenerously with Marian. I thought it would be better
for me to go."

"As near as I can make out, you've taken the Bassetts on your
shoulders. I didn't suppose Aunt Sally would stand for that."

"Aunt Sally doesn't know why I went to Chicago. I assume Mrs. Bassett
knows I went to bring Marian home, but I don't know what Mr. Bassett
told her about it, and I haven't seen her since. It's possible my going
may have displeased her. Blackford came here for his lessons this
morning."

Dan moved uneasily. The domestic affairs of the Bassetts did not
interest him save as they involved Sylvia. It was like Sylvia to help
them out of their scrapes; but Sylvia was not a person that he could
scold or abuse.

"You needed rest and it's too bad you've had to bother with their
troubles. Bassett was on the boat as I came over. He had a grouch. He
doesn't look like a happy man."

"I don't suppose he is altogether happy. And I've begged Marian not to
tell him she wants to marry Allen. That would certainly not cheer him
any, right now."

"I'm glad you had a chance to do that. I told Allen to skip right out
for Europe and hang on to his mother's apron strings till I send for
him. This old Capulet and Montague business doesn't ring quite true in
this twentieth century; there's something unreal about it. And just what
those youngsters can see in each other is beyond me."

"You must be fair about that. We haven't any right to question their
sincerity."

"Oh, Allen is sincere enough; but you'll have to show me the documents
on Marian's side of it. She sees in the situation a great lark. The
fact that her father and Thatcher are enemies appeals to her romantic
instincts."

"I think better of it than that, Dan. She's a fine, strong, loyal girl
with a lot of hard common sense. But that doesn't relieve the situation
of its immediate dangers. She's promised me not to speak to her father
yet--not until she has my consent. When I see that it can't be helped,
I'm going to speak to Mr Bassett about it myself."

"You seem to be the good angel of the Bassett household," he remarked
sullenly. A l