Of course he wasn't. He was a boy of fifteen, and I a mature young
woman of twenty-one."

"He _was_ in love with you," accused the girl, noting a brightness in
her friend's color.

"There was a sort of knightly devotion," admitted the other demurely.
"There always is, isn't there, in a boy of that age, for a woman years
older?"

"And you didn't know him at first?"

"It's ten years since I've set eyes on him. He doesn't even know that I
am the Mrs. Festus Willard who is giving this party."

"Festus is looking around for you. They'll be over here in a minute. No!
Don't get up yet. I want you to do something for me."

"What is it, Norrie?"

"I'm not going to feel well, about supper-time."

"Why not?"

"Would _you_ feel well if you'd been in to dinner three times in the
last week with Will Douglas, and then had to go in to supper with him,
too?"

"But I thought you and Will--"

"I'm tired of having people think," said Miss Elliot plaintively. "Too
much Douglas! Yes; I shall be quite indisposed, about one dance before
supper."

"I'll send you home."

"No, you won't, Jinny, dear. Because I shall suddenly recover, about two
minutes before the oysters arrive."

"Norrie!"

"Truly I shall. Quite miraculously. And you're to see that the young
Greek godling doesn't get any other partner for supper--"

"Esme!!"

"--because I'm sure he'd rather have me," she concluded superbly.

"Eleanor Stanley Maxwell Elliot!"

"Oh, you may call me _all_ my names. I'm accustomed to abuse from you.
But you'll arrange it, _dear_ Jinny, won't you!"

"Did you ever fail of anything when you put on that wheedling face and
tone?"

"Never," said Miss Elliot with composure, but giving her friend a little
hug. "Here they come. I fly. Bring him to me later."

Piloted by Festus Willard, Hal crossed the floor, and beheld, moving to
meet him with outstretched hands, a little woman with an elfin face and
the smile of a happy child.

"Have you forgotten me, Hal?"

"Lady Jeannette!" he cried, the old boyhood name springing to his lips.
"What are you doing here?"

"Didn't Festus tell you?" She looked fondly up at her big husband. "I
didn't know that the surprise would last up to the final moment."

"It's the very best surprise that has happened to me in Worthington,"
declared Hal emphatically.

"We're quite prepared to adopt you, Surtaine," said Willard pleasantly.
"Jinny has never ceased to wonder why she heard nothing from you