he acknowledged to be its past
master.

Gorham was surprised by the change in their relations as he saw it, and
the boy at once rose in his estimation. Allen had evidently taken to
heart the advice given him during their last interview, and had proved
himself big enough to rise above his jealousies and his disappointment.
Gorham, guided by Eleanor's judgment, had refrained even from expressing
to Alice his strong desire that she should marry Covington, but with
Allen already self-effaced and with Alice accepting Covington's
attentions, even though as yet uncommitted, all was progressing to his
satisfaction.

Allen's duties still took him frequently to the Gorham house, but he
saw Alice only casually, as he made no effort to force himself upon her.
She was too much engrossed with the new element which had entered her
life to concern herself particularly, but she was negatively grateful to
him for not making the present condition unpleasant. She wanted to keep
him as a friend, and told him so frankly, but that could only be so long
as he accepted things as he found them.

But any lack of enthusiasm on the part of Alice was more than made up
for by Patricia. She was living on the seventh floor of her seventh
heaven. As she saw it, Alice had acted in the friendliest way possible
in giving her a clear field with her Sir Launcelot. Allen humored her,
finding a real relief in this childish game which his little friend took
so seriously. The one drawback was the amount of intimate information
which she conveyed through the medium of her innocent prattle. Allen
could not know what was coming next, and so was powerless to head off
conversation upon subjects into which he knew he had no right to enter,
for Patricia possessed the faculty of keeping herself well informed as
to family matters. It was through this that he secured the first clew
upon which to start a real investigation, so he considered the
information Heaven-sent, and blessed the child accordingly.

The staircase, as usual, formed the trysting-place. Here Patricia
waylaid her Knight on his way down from the library, taking her position
on an upper step, which made their difference in height less apparent.
The same ceremony was enacted each time in accord with the ritual she
had taught him. After he passed her, she suddenly sprang up to her full
stature, holding her arm high above her with the palm of her hand
extended.

"Wit ye well, Sir Knight!" she cried, imp