in the dark hours between sunset
and sunrise.

"But there's nothing to--to talk about, Ellen," she said; and in
spite of herself her voice sounded cold, almost menacing.

"Oh, very well, if you feel that way," retorted Ellen. "But I can
tell you one thing--or, I _might_ tell you something; but I guess I
won't."

"Please, Ellen,--if it's about--"

"Well, it is."

Fanny's eyes pleaded hungrily with the naughty Ellen.

"You haven't finished your account of that interesting pleasure
excursion of Jim's and Miss Orr's," said Ellen. "Isn't it lovely Jim
can drive her car? Is he going to be her regular chauffeur? And do
you get an occasional joy-ride?"

"Of course not," Fanny said indignantly. "Oh, Ellen, how can you go
on like that! I'm sure you don't care a bit about Jim or me, either."

"I do!" declared Ellen. "I love you with all my heart, Fan; but I
don't know about Jim. I--I might have--you know; but if he's crazy
over that Orr girl, what's the use? There are other men, just as
good-looking as Jim Dodge and not half so sarcastic and
disagreeable."

"Jim can be disagreeable, if he wants to," conceded Jim's sister.
"When I asked him where he was going with the car so early in the
morning--you know he's been bringing the car home nights so as to
clean it and fix the engine, till she can get somebody--I was
surprised to find him putting in oil and tightening up screws and
things, when it was scarcely daylight; and I said so. He wouldn't
tell me a thing. 'You just 'tend to your own knitting, Fan,' was all
he said; 'perhaps you'll know some day; and then again, perhaps you
won't.'"

"And didn't you find out?" cried Ellen, her dark eyes alight with
curiosity. "If that doesn't sound exactly like Jim Dodge! But you
said you heard him when he came in that night; didn't he tell you
anything then?--You don't think they ran off to get married? Oh,
Fan!"

"Of course not, you goose! Do you suppose he'd have come back home
alone, if it had been anything like that?"

Ellen heaved a sigh of exaggerated relief.

"'Be still, my heart'!" she murmured.

"No; they went to get somebody from somewhere," pursued Fanny.

"To get somebody from somewhere," repeated Ellen impatiently. "How
thrilling! Who do you suppose it was?"

Fanny shook her head:

"I haven't the slightest idea."

"How perfectly funny! ...Is the somebody there, now?"

"I don't know. Jim won't tell me a thing that goes on there. He says
if there's anythi