he
Arlington, perhaps,--or wherever else you may prefer,--on the first
evening you can spare for deeds of mercy?"

Carlisle looked at him, buttoning her glove. Her lips smiled; but in
truth she was a little unsteadied by the exciting moment just passed
through, by the buoyant sense of triumph welling up within her. Were not
all men, however exalted or difficult, alike her playthings at
her pleasure?

"Of course I shall first beg," added Mr. Canning, "to be permitted to
pay my respects to you and Mrs. Heth--might I say to-morrow afternoon
at five?"

"We shall be so glad to see you, if you care to come," said Carlisle,
looking away from him. "As to dining, that would be very nice, of
course,--but are you sure your health would--"

"Oh, confound my health!" cried the great hermit. "Promise me now that
you will never speak the word in my presence again."

"I promise.... Only really--if my invitation to gambol should lead you
to--"

"You are as God made you, Miss Heth. It's not your fault that you
invite."

He gave her a look, and, turning, swung wide the door for the chaperon.

VIII

Supper with the Cooneys: Poor Relations, but you must be
Nice to them; of Hen Cooney's friend V.V., as she
irritatingly calls him; also relating how Cally is asked for
her Forgiveness, and can't seem to think what to say.

The Heths' poor relations, the Cooneys, lived in a two-story frame house
on Centre Street, four doors from a basement dry-cleaning establishment,
and staring full upon the show-window of an artificial-limb manufactory,
lately opened for the grisly trade.

The interval between the families of Heth and Cooney was as these facts
indicate. If Thornton Heth had married an ambitious woman, and he had,
his sister Molly had displayed less acumen. The Cooney stock, unlike the
Thompson as it was, deplorably resembled a thousand other stocks then
reproducing its kind in this particular city. The War had flattened it
out, cut it half through at the roots, and it had never recovered, as
economists count recovery, and wouldn't, for a generation or two at the
least. Accursed contentment flowed in the young Cooneys' blood. They had
abilities enough, but the sane acquisitive gift was not in them. They
were poor, but unashamed. They were breezy, keen, adventurous, without
fatigue. They claimed the gasoline-cleaning establishment as their
private garage, challenging any car under six thousand doll