sion of feeling, and her attitude--for of course
mamma always produced an attitude about everything upon the spot--was
not merely ecstatic, but tender and magnanimously humble. For it was
clear now that the daughter had outpointed the mother at the Great Game;
Cally had justified her flare-up; and Mrs. Heth, with eyes nobly moist,
begged forgiveness for all the hibernal harshnesses.

"You must make allowances for the natural anxieties of a loving mother's
heart," said she, in the first transports.... "You've done me so proud,
dear little daughter. _Proud_!... How Society will open its eyes!..."

"So he is coming to dinner with us!" she added a moment later, exulting
with her eyes. "He will speak to your father then.... It's not too late
to add a course or two. And we must have out the gold coffee-set...."

Canning dined in state at the House that night, with coffee from the
gold set. Next evening, there were similar ceremonies. Accompanying
Carlisle homeward on the day following their re-meeting, Canning had
meant to return at once to New York; for his long furlough had now run
out, and he had felt a man's call of duty upon him. Moreover, it was
already arranged that he should come again for a real betrothal visit,
sometime before the first of May. Yet he lingered on for four days now,
a man magnetized beyond his own control. Radiant days were these.

In view of Carlisle's desire that her news should not tamely leak out,
depriving the Announcement of its due _eclat_, some little discretion
was of course necessary at this period: else people would talk and say
afterwards that they knew it all along. She saw that she must still make
engagements which did not include her betrothed; she must meet the
archnesses of her little world with blank looks above the music in her
heart, with many evasions, and even, perhaps, a harmless fib or two.
Nevertheless, the lovers secured many hours all to themselves. Shut from
public view in Mr. Heth's study, and more especially in long motor rides
down unfrequented by-lanes they were deep in the absorptions of
exploring each other, of revealing themselves each to each. And to
Carlisle these hours, marked upon their faces with the first fresh
wonder of her conquest, were dazzling beyond description.

Spring was coming early this year, slipping in on light bright feet. And
in the House of Heth there was felt a vernal exuberance, indeed:
permeating papa even, extending to the very servants.