her daughter were surprised would be but a
mild way of expressing their feelings. They were for the moment
literally speechless with astonishment. Elsie was the first to recover
her power of articulation.

"Is it really and truly you, Marjorie?" she demanded, regarding her
smiling cousin with round-eyed amazement.

"Yes, it really and truly is," laughed Marjorie. "I've been trying to
find you all the afternoon, but there was such a crowd. I knew you'd be
surprised."

"Surprised!" echoed Elsie, looking from Marjorie to her tall companion,
"I was never so surprised in my life. But how did it happen--who brought
you?"

"Mr. Randolph and his mother," said Marjorie, "wasn't it perfectly
lovely of them?" And she proceeded to give her aunt and cousin an
account of recent events.

"I am sure it was extremely kind of Mrs. Randolph," Mrs. Carleton said,
when Marjorie had finished her story. "I only hope this little girl
hasn't been a trouble to your mother, Mr. Randolph."

"Indeed she hasn't," declared Beverly, not without some indignation in
his tone. "We've had a splendid time, haven't we, Marjorie?" To which
Marjorie, who felt suddenly as if a pail of ice water had been dashed
over her, answered rather meekly:--

"It was beautiful. I never had such a good time in my life."

"I am afraid that we must hurry along, Mrs. Carleton," said Beverly. "My
mother and uncle have gone ahead, and will be waiting for us at the
entrance. Don't worry about Marjorie; we'll take good care of her, and
bring her home safely. We may be a little late, as my uncle doesn't like
to run his car fast after dark."

"Oh, I shall not worry," said Mrs. Carleton, with her sweetest smile. "I
know Marjorie is in excellent hands, and between ourselves, I think she
is a very fortunate little girl."

Marjorie was rather silent during the long ride back to New York that
evening. Mrs. Randolph and the doctor thought she was tired after all
the excitement of the day, and kindly left her alone, but Beverly was of
a different opinion, and his feelings towards Marjorie's aunt and cousin
were not of the kindest.

"I suppose your aunt was very much surprised to see you," Mrs. Randolph
said kindly, merely for the sake of conversation.

"Very much indeed," said Marjorie, in a tone that was not altogether
steady. "Oh, Mrs. Randolph, I do hope I haven't been a trouble to you."

"A trouble! My dear child, what nonsense. It has been perfectly
delightful to hav