y of society. She would do her best, of course, to
preserve the hateful truth that had been so cunningly covered up by
the lies of Mrs. Standish's first invention; but she would do that
best, if possible, more by keeping silence than by coining and
uttering fresh falsehoods.

"Not so well last night," she confessed. "I don't know what was the
matter with me, but somehow I didn't seem even to want to sleep."

"I know," Mrs. Gosnold nodded wisely. "I'm not yet old enough to have
forgotten these midsummer moonlight nights of ours. When I was a girl
and being courted, from this very house, I know I used to wait until
everybody had gone to bed and creep out and wander for hours . . ."

Her pause invited confidences. And momentarily Sally's heart thumped
like a trip-hammer. Did she, then, either know or guess?

"I did that last night," she responded; "but I hadn't your excuse."

"You mean, you're not being courted? Don't be impatient. Once to every
woman--once too often to most. And it's well to take one's time
nowadays. Perhaps it's a sign of age, and I shouldn't own it, but it
does seem to me that the young men of to-day are an uncommonly godless
crew. I should be sorry to have you make a mistake . . ."

She contented herself with that much warning and no more; but
Sally knew their thoughts were one, focused upon a singular though by
no means strange example of the young men of the present day.

"I think," her employer pursued, with a look excusing the transient
keenness of her scrutiny, "our Island air agrees with you. If you have
had one poor night, all the same you're quite another girl than the
one who came here--was it only four days ago? I hope you're quite
comfortable."

"Oh, yes, indeed."

"And would you care to stay on?"

"With all my heart!"

"I see no reason why you shouldn't. I like you very well; you're quick
and willing--and you humour my weakness for the respect of my
associates. I don't ask for their dependence. If you like, we'll say
your engagement begins to-day, the first of the week."

"You are very kind."

"I'm very selfish. I like intelligence, prettiness, and youth--must
have them at any cost! So that's understood. Of course, there are
certain questions to be settled, arrangements to be made. For example,
I assume responsibility for your losses at bridge, because playing
when I wish you to is one of your duties. But these matters adjust
themselves as they come up from time to time."