its player.

"I don't know. I'll probably stay here until early June. I may go away
with Virginia for part of the summer."

"Not be home for spring and summer!" he said dismally. "Why, it won't be
spring without you! We can't go for bird-foot violets or arbutus."

Arbutus--the name called up a host of memories to me. "How I'd like to
go for arbutus this spring," I told him.

"Then come home in April and I'll take you to Mt. Hope for some."

"Oh, David, will you?"

"I'd love to. We'll drive up."

"I'll come," I promised. "I'll come home for arbutus. Let me know when
they're out."

"All right. But I think we must go now or we'll miss the train."

"Go?" I echoed. "You're not going home to-night? Can't you stay? Mrs.
McCrea has vacant rooms. I've been so excited I forgot my manners. Let
me take you to the sitting-room and introduce you to Mrs. Lee and
Royal."

"Ach, no," Mother Bab protested. "We can't stay that long. We just
stopped in to see you."

David looked at his watch. "We must go now. There's a train at
eight-twenty-one gets to Lancaster at ten-forty-five and we'll get the
last car out to Greenwald and Phares will meet us and drive us home."

I asked about the home folks as I watched David adjust Mother Bab's
shawl. He looked older and worried. I suppose he was disappointed
because the Big Doctor didn't promise a quick cure for Mother Bab's
eyes.

As they said good-bye and left me I wanted to run after them and ask
them to take me home, back to the simple life of my people. But I stayed
where I was, the earthiest worldling in a dress of unworldliness.

"I--I believe I'll take it off," I thought as I stood in the doorway.

Just then Royal opened the door and saw me. "Ye Gods!" he exclaimed,
"you look like a saint, Phoebe."

"But I'm not! I'm far from being a saint!"

"Don't be one, please. If you turn saint I shall be disconsolate. I
don't like saints of women and I want to keep on liking you, little
Bluebird. Remember, you promised me the first dance."

"I don't know--I don't feel like dancing."

"Oh, but you must! You look like a Quakeress but no one expects you to
act like one to-night. I'm going up to dress--I'm going as a monk to
match you."

He ran off, laughing, and I went in search of Virginia. My heart was
heavy. The sudden appearance of Mother Bab and David brought me a vivid
impression of the contrast between their lives and mine and the thoughts
left me worried and restless. Wha