It is very unlike him. I wonder what he
thought of you?"

This brought out Miss Bentley's dimples, as she owned he had seemed not
displeased to meet her. "I explained that I was waiting for Dr. Prue,
who had gone in to see one of the superintendent's children." She
further assured her aunt that River Bend Park was a delightful place in
which to enjoy nature, on Sunday morning or any other time.

"I confess I do not choose a public park when I wish to enjoy
nature--except for driving, of course. Perhaps," added Mrs. Pennington,
"that is what you call over-refined."

Margaret Elizabeth considered this thoughtfully. "Perhaps it is," she
said. "Not being able to enjoy things that are free to everybody."

But Margaret Elizabeth in that frivolously-becoming cap was an antidote
to her own remarks. Mrs. Pennington smiled indulgently. Richard's
daughter came honestly by some eccentricities, not to mention those
Vandegrifts, whose influence she greatly deplored.

"You will outgrow these socialistic ideas, my dear," she said. "But
I am still puzzled, the more I think of it, at your meeting Augustus on
Sunday morning. Was it two weeks ago? I am under the impression he left
for New York that very day."

"He didn't mention it, but there are afternoon trains," answered
Margaret Elizabeth. "He merely said something about a sick boy he was
going to see at St. Mary's."

This again was very unlike Augustus, but Mrs. Pennington said no more.
Meanwhile the faintest shadow of a doubt was dawning in her niece's
mind; so shadowy she was scarcely aware of it, until, glowing from her
walk across the park, she entered the drawing-room that afternoon.

There is, by the way, a difference between walking in Sunset Park, the
abode of the elect, with a huge St. Bernard in leash, and taking the
same exercise at River Bend, unchaperoned save by a chance guard. Any
right-minded person must see this.

A young man, who sat talking to Mrs. Gerrard Pennington before the fire,
rose at her entrance.

"I am glad you have come, Margaret Elizabeth," her aunt exclaimed.
"I think you know Mr. McAllister? But we have rather a good joke on
you, for August says he was never in his life in River Bend Park."

"How do you do, Miss Bentley. Awfully glad to see you. That is, except
to motor through, don't you know, Mrs. Pennington."

Miss Bentley's brown eyes met Mr. McAllister's blue ones, and in the
period of one brief glance she experienced almost as many