f old. Her wonder
was, that the Dayres had been able to put up with her so long, and she
said so.

"'Hobson's choice,'" Shirley answered, with a little shrug. "She isn't
much like our old Therese at home, is she, Harry? But nothing would
tempt Therese away from her beloved New York. 'Vairmon! Nevaire have
I heard of zat place!' she told Harry, when he interviewed her for us.
Senior's gone to Vergennes--on business thoughts intent, or I hope they
are. He's under strict orders not to 'discover a single bit' along the
way, and to get back as quickly as possible."

"You see how beautifully she has us all in training?" Harry said to
Pauline.

Pauline laughed. Suddenly she looked up from her flowers with sobered
face. "I wonder," she said slowly, "if you know what it's meant to
us--you're being here this summer, Shirley? Sometimes things do fit in
just right after all. It's helped out wonderfully this summer, having
you here and the manor open."

"Pauline has a fairy-story uncle down in New York," Shirley turned to
Harry. "You've heard of him--Mr. Paul Shaw."

"Well,--rather! I've met him, once or twice--he didn't strike me as
much of a believer in fairy tales."

"He's made us believe in them," Pauline answered.

"I think Senior might have provided me with such a delightful sort of
uncle," Shirley observed. "I told him so, but he says, while he's
awfully sorry I didn't mention it before, he's afraid it's too late
now."

"Uncle Paul sent us Bedelia," Pauline told the rather perplexed-looking
Harry, "and the row-boat and the camera and--oh, other things."

"Because he wanted them to have a nice, jolly summer," Shirley
explained. "Pauline's sister had been sick and needed brightening up."

"You don't think he's looking around for a nephew to adopt, do you?"
Harry inquired. "A well-intentioned, intelligent young man--with no
end of talent."

"For making salads," Shirley added with a sly smile.

"Oh, well, you know," Harry remarked casually, "these are what Senior
calls my 'salad days.'"

Whereupon Shirley rose without a word, carrying off her vases of
flowers.

The party at the manor was, like all the club affairs, a decided
success. Never had the old place looked so gay and animated, since
those far-off days of its early glory.

The young people coming and going--the girls in their light dresses and
bright ribbons made a pleasant place of the lawn, with its background
of shining water. The