f about that first
afternoon," he explained, "but little did I think to what dark suspicions
I was laying myself open," and he smiled at Belle.

"Cousin Betty, you never told me you knew our president," Rosalind said
reproachfully.

Miss Hetty laughed. "You see it had been such a long, long time,
Rosalind--"

"That she had forgotten me," added the president.

"Oh, no, I hadn't," she insisted.

They all felt that they should like to see more of him, and that it was
too bad he had to leave on the five o'clock train. The last hour was spent
with the Whittredges, and Rosalind and Allan accompanied him to the
station. Here, while they waited, Rosalind had an opportunity to tell him
about the society of Arden Foresters, in which he seemed greatly
interested, and was saying he should like to belong, when the gong
sounded the approach of the train, and there was only time for good-by.

"I shall be in this part of the country late in October, and may look in
upon you again," the president put his head out of the window to say, as
the conductor called, "All aboard."

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOURTH.

AT THE AUCTION.

"Assuredly the thing is to be sold."

Although the September days were warm, it was plain that summer was
departing. The flutter of yellow butterflies along the road told it, so
did the bursting pods of the milkweed, and the golden-rod and asters,
wreathing the meadows in royal colors.

The potting of plants began in the gardens, housewifely minds turned to
fall cleaning, the spicy odor of tomato catsup pervaded the atmosphere,
and the sound of the school bell was heard in the land.

It was always so, Belle groaned. Just when out of doors grew most
alluring, lessons put in their superior claim. To be sure, there were some
free afternoons and always Saturdays, but one did not want to lose a
moment of the fleeting beauty.

Rosalind missed somewhat the constant companionship of her friends. Mrs.
Whittredge thought it hardly worth while to enter her in school for two
months, but at the instigation of Miss Herbert some home instruction was
begun. This Uncle Allan had no conscience about interrupting whenever he
wanted Rosalind for a drive or walk. As yet he said nothing about leaving
Friendship. A few brief sentences had been exchanged with his mother upon
the subject that weighed most heavily on his mind.

"Has anything ever been done, any step taken, to correct the unfounded
report which got out at the t