followed was an expressive one. Hubert broke it.

"Ye-es," he said critically, as he bent over Archie for a moment; "you
aren't looking your very prettiest, Archie. When you do get up, I advise
you to go in search of a mirror."

"Hu!"

But Hope's remonstrance came too late, for Archie had already sat up.

Hubert helped him to take off his skates, and the little party started
for home. It was the same walk they had taken many times before; but
there was a difference now. Instead of going up the hill in a merry
group, with Archie pushing the chair and Theodora prancing along by his
side, Billy and the twins took the lead, and Archie and Hope, in the
shadow of the trees, followed along slowly, very slowly.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Slowly, very slowly, Theodora was turning about in front of her mirror
to inspect her new suit. It was her nearest approach to that glory of
modern womankind, the tailor-made gown, and Theodora's face was
expressive of unmitigated approval. The dark green cloth suited her
complexion to perfection, the jacket was edged with fur, and the dark
green hat, rolled sharply upwards, framed her eager young face in a soft
setting of velvet and feathers. Theodora looked her best, and, like a
true daughter of Eve, she was perfectly aware of the fact. With the aid
of a hand-glass, she studied her right side, her left side, her back,
petulantly brushed away the heavy masses of her short hair, made sure
that Archie's pin showed its gleam at her throat; then she descended the
stairs in search of admiration.

She found Archie in the parlor, the symmetry of his face somewhat marred
by the patch of plaster on his right temple.

"How do you like it, Uncle Arch?" she demanded, clasping her hands and
revolving before him like a teetotum.

"It's good. You look warm and comfortable, and not a bit floppy," he
answered. "When do you go?"

"Friday. I'd much rather wait till Tuesday, and see you off; but beggars
mustn't be choosers, and it was lovely of Mrs. Farrington to ask me."

"You'll have a great time with them," Archie returned, privately
reflecting that Mrs. Farrington had no cause to be ashamed of her
charge. For the past three days, he had been devoting most of his spare
time to gentle Hope, yet he confessed to a hearty admiration for
off-hand, boyish Theodora, who had done so much to make his stay a
pleasant one. "Going to write to me, Ted?" he added persuasively.

"I don't know. What for?"

"To