came into the equation her heart
arose in his defense. In some way his share in the proceeding was all
right. He had cared for her and he had done what he thought would please
her. Therefore she must be pleased, although forced to admit to herself
that she would have been infinitely more pleased to have built her own
house in her own way.

She was hungry to see Linda. She wanted Katherine O'Donovan to feed her
and fuss over her and entertain her with her mellow Irish brogue; but if
she went to them and disclosed her presence in the valley, Peter would
know about it, and if he intended the building he was erecting as a
wonderful surprise for her, then she must not spoil his joy. Plan in any
way she could, Marian could see no course left to her other than to slip
back to the station and return to San Francisco without meeting any
of her friends. She hurriedly ate her lunch, again straightened her
clothing, went to the restaurant for her traveling bag, and took the car
for the station where she waited for a return train to San Francisco She
bought a paper and tried to concentrate upon it in an effort to take her
mind from her own problems so that, when she returned to them, she would
be better able to think clearly, to reason justly, to act wisely.
She was very glad when her train came and she was started on her way
northward. At the first siding upon which it stopped to allow the
passing of a south-bound limited, she was certain that as the cars
flashed by, in one of them she saw Eugene Snow. She was so certain that
when she reached the city she immediately called the office and asked
for Mr. Snow only to be told that he had gone away for a day or two
on business. After that Marian's thought was confused to the point of
exasperation.

It would be difficult to explain precisely the state of mind in which
Linda, upon arriving at her home that afternoon, received from Katy the
information that a man named Snow had been waiting an hour for her in
the living room. Linda's appearance was that of a person so astonished
that Katy sidled up to her giving strong evidence of being ready to
bristle.

"Ye know, lambie," she said with elaborate indifference, "ye aren't
havin' to see anybody ye don't want to. If it's somebody intrudin'
himself on ye, just say the word and I'll fire him; higher than
Guilderoy's kite I'll be firin' him."

"No, I must see him, Katy," said Linda quietly. "And have something
specially nice for dinner. V