t always since
that moment I could stake my life on this, that any--any mystery that
might seem to exist was not of your making or choosing. And I want to
assure you of something, to make you believe it if necessary; and that
is, dear, dear Marcia, if you never choose to unravel the tangle I shall
still be content."

She looked at him a moment in absolute, speechless wonder, and then
tears, happy tears brimmed in her eyes. "Oh, how glad I shall be to
unravel it!" She breathed deeply. "How glad! Wait a little--a week, a
fortnight. Ah!" She caught herself up hastily. "Come, see how late! It is
growing dark and the lights are beginning to twinkle out, and they tell
me, even if you will not, that it is time I ran home and got dressed. I'm
to dine at Bea Habersham's to-night. You must come in with me when we
reach home and let mother give you a cup of tea. You are a tremendous
favorite of hers; she says you are wonderfully witty. And then you can
drive as far as Bea's with me, and I will have the chauffeur take you on
home. Will you?"

"Will I? Will I? Thank you very much, Miss Oldham, for your amiability in
Suggesting such a thing; but I could not possibly take advantage of your
kindness." If the wit of this sally may be judged by the manner in which
it was received Hayden had just uttered one of the great bon-mots of the
ages.

"I hope," said Marcia presently, a touch of apprehension in her tone,
"that some one has been to see mother this afternoon. Poor dear! She
always feels a little aggrieved if no one comes."

"Let us appease any possible disappointment she may have suffered by
taking her a present," suggested Hayden, fired by inspiration. "Women,
children, every one likes presents, do they not? Come, let us find
shops."

"What an adventurer you are!" laughed Marcia, letting him lead her across
the street, a confusion crowded with swiftly moving vehicles and cars,
for they had now left the twilight shadows and comparative seclusion of
the Park and were walking down the noisy thoroughfare.

"You will have to make a quick decision," she added as they came upon a
region of many brilliant shops and sidewalks crowded with people. "What
will you take her, fruit or flowers?"

But Hayden was too happy to consider any topic with gravity. "We will
take her a swanboat, or one of the Hesperidian apples, or the Golden
Fleece."

And although Marcia spent herself in urging him to stick to the
conservative fruit and flowers