terfly nets, and
Frances and I drifted out to our pavilion overlooking the broad sweep of
the Tappan Zee. As yet, her father had said nothing to me, but I knew
that the blow might fall any moment. Only the arrival of the frump's
father had so far saved me. And though I had gone right ahead violating
his jolly injunction about Frances, I kept a sort of parole with him by
avoiding any discussion of things that I knew would have interested my
darling the most--that is, our love and our future. Later we took a
drive through Sleepy Hollow and the Pocantico Hills. But though we grew
better and better acquainted every minute, I couldn't help feeling
devilish disappointed, for never once did she ever call me "Dicky." I
wondered moodily whether her brother had told her yet of his plans for
me.

In the evening, the younger brother showed up at dinner, but sulked,
which I thought under the circumstances was about the most considerate
thing he could have done.

Once during the evening, Billings, who had been talking with the
professor, turned to me. "By the way, Dicky--those pajamas, you
know--what did you do with them this morning?" He and the professor
whispered again; then Billings turned back. "Gray paper parcel--um--you
know?"

Know? Dash it, of course I knew, but I--

"Why, _I_ have them now," came quietly from my companion, "thanks to Mr.
Lightnut. He gave them to me this morning."

"_Gave_ them to you!" gasped Billings. He whispered to me: "But the
rubies, you cuckoo--you didn't give her _those_?"

Rubies? Dash it, I had to think hard to remember what had become of the
rubies. But I got the idea.

"Why, the professor has those," I reminded him. "The red pajamas, you
know--don't you remember?" I drew him aside.

Billings stared. "But he says he returned them," he exclaimed, cutting
an odd sidewise look at the professor, who was talking to Frances and
the frump. Billings frowned.

"Haven't seen them," I said carelessly, for I wanted to talk to _her_.
"Oh, dash the rubies--wait till morning!"

Billings looked sourly at the professor and went off and sat alone. He
seemed put out about the old boy not returning the garments. Never
seemed to occur to him that the professor was a devilish busy and
absent-minded old chap. Might not return them for a month. _I_ knew
that.

"Oh, really, Frances?" the frump was saying, "How exceedingly nice of
you, dear!" The professor was occupied for the moment with a moth. "I
hope I