n whom she intended to marry.

"You would make a splendid president, Father," Patty was insisting.

"Well, I'm inclined to think that you're right," Vetch responded
whimsically, "but you'll have to convince a few others of that, I
reckon, before we begin to plan for the White House. First of all,
you'll have to convince the folks that started the boom to make me
Governor. It looks as if some of them were already thinking that they'd
made a mistake."

"Oh, that horrid Julius," said Patty lightly. "He doesn't matter a bit,
does he, Mrs. Page?"

"Not to me," laughed Corinna, "but I'm not a politician. Politicians
have queer preferences."

"Or queer needs," suggested Vetch. "You don't like Gershom, I infer; but
when you are ready to sweep, remember you mustn't be over-squeamish
about your broom."

"I have heard," rejoined Corinna, still laughing, "that a new broom
sweeps clean. Why not try a new one next time?"

"You mean when I run for the Presidency?" Was he joking, or was there an
undercurrent of seriousness in his words?

They had risen from the table; and as they passed through the long
reception-room, which stretched between the dining-room and the wide
front hall, Abijah brought the information that Mr. Gershom awaited the
Governor in the library.

"I shall probably be kept there most of the afternoon," said Vetch, and
she could see that his regret was not assumed. "The next time you come I
hope I shall have better luck." Then he hurried off to his appointment,
while Corinna stopped at the foot of the staircase and followed with
her gaze the slender balustrade of mahogany. "If they had only left
everything as it was!" she thought; and then she said aloud: "It is so
lovely out of doors. Get your hat and we'll walk awhile in the Square. I
can talk to you better there, and I want to talk to you seriously."

After the girl had disappeared up the quaint flight of stairs, Corinna
stood gazing meditatively at the bar of sunlight over the front door.
She was thinking of what she should say to Patty--how could she possibly
warn the girl without wounding her?--and it was very gradually that she
became aware of raised voices in the library and the hard, short sound
of words that beat like hail into her consciousness.

"I tell you we can put it over all right if you will only have the sense
to keep your hands off!" stormed Gershom in a tone that he was trying in
vain to subdue.

"Are you sure they will strike?"