f at her
feet. God had granted her the priceless boon of a true man's true love.
Though she and Tom had but briefly glimpsed their Golden Summer, the
remembrance of his unselfish devotion would keep it alive forever.

CHAPTER XIV

THE BEGINNING OF THE END

Two days elapsed, following the call of the belligerent Stanley Forde,
before Arline ended her visit to Grace. Once she had departed, Grace
missed her sorely. Her coming had been a timely break in the now sad
routine which Grace daily pursued. Many of her Oakdale acquaintances and
friends were still vacationing at the seashore or in the mountains. Had
they been at home, she would not have sought them for companionship.
Aside from the many hours she spent with Mrs. Gray, she clung
desperately to Nora and Hippy Wingate. Even jovial Hippy was
considerably less lively than of yore. His affection for Tom Gray was
only second to his devoted friendship for Reddy Brooks, who had been his
childhood's chum. Among the four young men, Tom, David, Hippy and Reddy,
an ideal comradeship had ever existed, unfaltering and unchangeable.
Tom's sudden and still unexplained removal had cast a pall over the
remaining trio that was likely to linger indefinitely.

On the afternoon of the next day after Arline's departure, a
highly-excited young man, whose plump, genial face wore an expression of
angry concern, hurried up the walk to the Harlowe's veranda.

"Why, Hippy Wingate, what are you doing here so early?" demanded Nora,
from the porch swing. "You can't have your dinner yet. It's only four
o'clock. When you're invited to six o'clock dinner you mustn't arrive
two hours beforehand. Didn't you know that?" This wifely counsel was
accompanied by a teasing smile that belied its harshness.

"Don't pay any attention to her, Hippy," called Grace mischievously.
"Come up on the veranda where it's nice and cool. I give you permission
to sit in the porch swing beside the haughty Mrs. Wingate. Better still,
I'll bring you some fruit lemonade and a whole plate of those fat little
chocolate cakes you like so much."

"Now I hope you understand at last how much other people appreciate me,"
rebuked Hippy, as he plumped himself down in the swing with an energy
that set it swaying wildly. "I shan't give you a single cake."

"I don't want any. I've had four already. I hope _you_ understand that
you've made me prick my finger," retorted Nora, dropping her embroidery
to hold up the injured mem