on whom her eyes had not fallen since a sunny May morning when she had
sat and wept before him. He stood quite near, the founder of the
Settlement, though in an obscure corner: backed there, it seemed, by a
fat conversationalist in a purple bonnet. But there must have been
telepathy in Cally's gaze for her one confidant; for she had no sooner
descried his tall figure through the fuss and feathers than he turned
his eyes and looked at her.

She had considered with mingled feelings the prospect of meeting this
man again to-day; and now the sight of his face and lucid gaze brought
something of that sense of shock which had attended these encounters in
other days. Only now, twined with the painfulness of many associations
which his look aroused, there was a sort of welcome, odd and unexpected;
she felt a little start of gladness, as at the unlooked-for appearance
of something trusted and familiar. How was it that she had thought so
little of him in these months, through which it had seemed that there
was nobody who understood?...

She bowed, in quite a bright and friendly way, putting down her inward
disquiet; and then it was that, turning hastily again to the faithful
Avery, Cally inquired:

"What did you say?"

"I suggested," said the pink and pluperfect one, "that you ought to see
the gymnasium and swimming-pool at any rate. I'm informed that the pool
is the largest in the State, and ..."

But Cally had seen that the man from another world was stepping out from
his obscurity; and now there sounded above the Avery periods the vivid
voice first heard in the summer-house.

"Miss Heth!--may I say how-do-you-do?... I hadn't seen you till that
moment. In fact, I had no idea you were here ..."

"Oh, yes, indeed. I'm a Life Member, if you please," said Cally turning,
looking again at the owner of that voice. "How do you do? Do you know
Mr. Avery, Dr. Vivian?"

The two men bowed. Young Mr. V.V. had not long retained the slim hand
which--such was his lot--had been offered to him for the first time
in his life.

"Oh, Miss Kemper!" added Cally. "Do forgive me--I didn't recognize your
back at all. May I introduce Mr. Avery?..."

And then, while Mr. Avery paid reluctant devoirs to the lady in the
purple bonnet, Cally said quite easily to Dr. Vivian:

"I was just debating whether or not to make an exploring expedition over
the whole Settlement. Is there much to see?--or is it mostly rooms?"

"Oh, mostly rooms," said Mr.