ngling of books and work; a second
glance showed it to be simply the shop in evening dress.

The voice belonged to Miss Pennington who now came forward with a
cordial greeting, and presented Alex and Miss Virginia to her friend,
Miss Carpenter. Miss Carpenter's manner was somewhat distant in
contrast, but seen without the disfiguring glasses she usually wore,
Alex found her unexpectedly handsome.

"I have wanted so much to have an opportunity to thank you," Miss
Virginia began, an evident victim to a terrible fit of shyness. "I
came one afternoon, but you were out. You were both so kind to my
niece," she looked at Miss Carpenter.

"I beg you not to think of it again. It was nothing at all. I happened
to be at the station, and seeing how frightened she was, went to her
rescue." Miss Carpenter spoke as one who dismissed a trivial matter.

"We were so interested in her," put in Miss Pennington. "It occurred
to Miss Carpenter that it might be possible to avoid the trying ordeal
of explanations, so she brought her here to talk it over."

"Charlotte is a dear child," said Miss Virginia, "and all the trouble
is over now." Then she added with a sudden accession of
self-possession: "It may seem a small matter to you, Miss Carpenter,
but perhaps you can understand it would have been a most serious and
unhappy thing for me if the child had carried out her plan. I can't be
thankful enough."

"I do see it, and I am very glad that, by a happy accident, I was able
to be of service." Miss Carpenter's manner changed, her tone was soft,
her smile winning. Alex, who was playing the part of spectator,
suddenly warmed to her.

"I met your grandfather several weeks ago, Miss Russell," said Miss
Pennington, turning to her. "He had an armful of books, and seemed to
think I had done him a wonderful favor in picking up two he dropped in
getting out of the car."

"He told me," Alex answered. "He was so pleased that you appreciated
the value of his find."

"And he was so disappointed when he found I kept a shop," laughed
Norah.

Alex smiled and flushed. "Grandfather has old-fashioned ideas about
women supporting themselves, and then, too, the neighborhood was
rather opposed to having a shop built here."

"I know," answered Miss Pennington, "but as it is here we flatter
ourselves nothing could be less objectionable than _our_ shop."

"You are undoubtedly winning us over. It seems to me a delightful
occupation, but I suppose it is no