vividly.

"I don't know what on earth you think of me, Mr. Annan, and I suppose I
will have to learn to endure the consequences of Mr. Ogilvy's
eccentricities--"

"Oh, I'm terribly glad!" said Annan, grinning, and taking her hand in
both of his.

They had tea on the veranda. Ogilvy was too excited and far too happy to
be dignified, and Helene was so much embarrassed by his behaviour and so
much in love that she made a distractingly pretty picture between the
two young men who, as Rita had said, would never, never be old enough to
grow up.

"Do you know," said Helene, "that your friends the Nevilles have
recently been very nice to me? They have called, and have returned my
call, and have asked me to dinner. I suppose cordiality takes longer to
arrive at maturity in New York State than in any other part of the
Union. But when New York people make up their minds to be agreeable,
they certainly are delightful."

"They're a bunch of snobs," said Ogilvy, calmly.

"Oh!" said Helene with a distressed glance at Annan.

"He's one, too," observed her affianced, coolly nodding toward Annan.
"We're a sickening lot, Helene--until some charming and genuine person
like you comes along to jounce us out of our smiling and imbecile
self-absorption."

"I," said Annan gravely, "am probably the most frightful snob that ever
wandered, in a moment of temporary aberration, north of lower Fifth
Avenue."

"I'm worse," observed Sam gloomily. "Help us, Helene, toward loftier
aspirations. Be our little uplift girl--"

"You silly things!" she said indignantly.

Later two riders passed the house, Cameron and Stephanie Swift, who
saluted Helene most cordially, and waved airy recognition to the two
men.

"More snobs," commented Sam.

"They are very delightful people!" retorted Helene hotly.

"Most snobs are when they like you."

"Sam! I won't have you express such sentiments!"

He bent nearer to her:

"Dearest, I never had any sentiments except for you. And only the
inconvenient propinquity of that man Annan prevents me from expressing
them."

"Please, Sam--"

"Don't be afraid; I won't. He wouldn't care;--but I won't.... Hello! Why
look who's here!" he exclaimed, rising. "Why it's the great god Kelly
and little Sunshine!"--as Neville and Valerie sprang out of Mrs.
Collis's touring car and came up the walk.

Helene went forward to meet them, putting one arm around Valerie and
holding out the other to Neville.

"When did yo