as almost down when they walked home. When the song
was finished David stood half wistfully looking at Marcia for a moment.
Her eyes shone to his through the dusk like two bright stars. He hesitated
as though he wanted to say something more, and then thought better of it.
At last he stooped and lifted her hand from the keys and led her toward
the door.

"You must go to sleep at once," he said gently. "You'll need all the rest
you can get." He lighted a candle for her and said good-night with his
eyes as well as his lips. Marcia felt that she was moving up the stairs
under a spell of some gentle loving power that surrounded her and would
always guard her.

And it was about this time that Miranda, having been sent over to take a
forgotten piece of bride's cake to Marcia, and having heard the piano, and
stolen discreetly to the parlor window for a moment, returned and detailed
for the delectation of that most unhappy guest Mrs. Leavenworth why she
could not get in and would have to take it over in the morning:

"The window was open in the parlor and they were in there, them two, but
they was so plum took up with their two selves, as they always are, that
there wasn't no use knockin' fer they'd never hev heard."

Miranda enjoyed making those remarks to the guest. Some keen instinct
always told her where best to strike her blows.

When Marcia had reached the top stair she looked down and there was David
smiling up to her.

"Marcia," said he in a tone that seemed half ashamed and half amused,
"have you, any--that is--things--that you had before--all your own I mean?"
With quick intuition Marcia understood and her own sweet shame about her
clothes that were not her own came back upon her with double force. She
suddenly saw herself again standing before the censure of her sister. She
wondered if David had heard. If not, how then did he know? Oh, the shame
of it!

She sat down weakly upon the stair.

"Yes," said she, trying to think. "Some old things, and one frock."

"Wear it then to-morrow, dear," said David, in a compelling voice and with
the sweet smile that took the hurt out of his most severe words.

Marcia smiled. "It is very plain," she said, "only chintz, pink and white.
I made it myself."

"Charming!" said David. "Wear it, dear. Marcia, one thing more. Don't wear
any more things that don't belong to you. Not a Dud. Promise me? Can you
get along without it?"

"Why, I guess so," said Marcia laughing joyfull