tience with John's pursuance of
an uncomfortable subject. They were all in the living-room now, and she
and Sylvia were standing with lighted candles in their hands.

Sylvia pursed her lips demurely. "I will--perhaps--if it works, Mr.
Dunham."

"Works? Ferments, do you mean? Now you're talking sense. No unfermented
grape juice in mine."

Sylvia laughed and looked around at Edna, who was grave and seemed
waiting politely. "Poor Edna. She's tired," she thought, and nodding a
good-night to John, she moved toward the stairs. "I'll see you when you
come up, Edna," she added, and disappeared.

Dunham watched the light figure in its swift ascent, and then turned
toward his hostess.

"She won't tell us," he announced, smiling.

"How could you keep on talking about it, John?" said Edna, speaking
low.

His face fell at her tone. "Why not?" he asked blankly. "Have you
changed your mind about its being a joke?"

"Oh--I"--Edna scarcely understood her own attitude toward the little
incident, and hesitated most uncharacteristically. "I think it was
rather foolish and--and unpleasant, somehow. I--good-night, John," she
put out her hand and he took it. "I hope you won't know anything about
the sunrise, and that the cradle of the deep won't be too noisy for
you. You needn't lock up. Just close the doors and window when you're
ready to come in. We don't insult Arcady with bolts. Good-night."

The following day dawned bright. Edna regarded the extraordinary light
in Sylvia's eyes and her unwonted gayety of manner at the
breakfast-table with mental questioning.

"The most annoying thing has occurred," she said. "This day of all days
the carpenters for whom I've been waiting all summer have turned up. I
shan't be able to leave home. Could you people wait until to-morrow to
go over to the farm?"

"I'm afraid not," returned John. "I must go and report, as well as make
myself more presentable. Who knows what to-morrow may be like? As
probably as not Neptune will be throwing snowballs in all directions."

"And when he does, Edna sings!" exclaimed Sylvia, turning her vital,
sparkling gaze on her hostess. "You'd better hope he does;--but not
to-day, not to-day!" Her voice dropped to a low, exultant note, and
then she laughed and blushed, meeting John's quizzical, curious look.

"By Jove, I believe the stuff _has_ worked and she's been trying it,
Edna," he said. "It's early in the day, but she's lit up for a fact.
How was your ride