emarks for laughter, I liked still
more this new friend.

"You are the good, thoughtful little missionary to the foreigner,
Susan. I suppose you wanted to stay at home and tat socks while Bobbie
and I dined and wined--not," was the very unappreciative answer that
was made to her by that Buzz.

"For always I will be your humble slave, Mademoiselle Susan," was the
answer I made into her laughing eyes. "All the evening I will wait in
loneliness for the small crumbs of dance that you throw to me."

"That will do, Robert; you don't know how spoiled Susan is and you're
making trouble for me. Besides, you haven't seen the baby Belle in war
paint yet. Let's go call on her now!" And that Mr. Buzz Clendenning
was in a moment ready for making more new friends for me. "Come on,
Susan, we can tie Prince Bob on the running board."

"Why, there's Belle at the gate now and--yes--it's Mrs. Whitworth with
her. I wonder when she came from New York," said Mademoiselle Susan as
we went to meet the guests approaching, I on the one side of her and
the Mr. Buzz on the other.

CHAPTER VIII

IN THE DRESS OF MAGNIFICENCE

"The beautiful Madam Whitworth came down upon the same train which I
occupied," I said as I remembered to raise from my head my hat by that
action on the part of my Mr. Buzz.

"Oh, then you have been presented to L'Aiglon?" said Mr. Buzz to that
Madam Whitworth who stood smiling while I was presented to the very
lovely girl of great blondness, who both blushed and what is called
giggled as I kissed her hand, though in her eyes I found a nice
friendliness to me.

"We are old friends who know all about each other, aren't we, Mr.
Robert Carruthers?" and in her gay answer to that Mr. Buzz I detected
a challenge as her eyes of blue flowers in snow looked into mine with
the keenness of a knife, to detect if I had yet been told aught of her
by my Uncle. And in the answering look of friendliness I gave her was
concealed also a knife of great keenness, which came from a brain with
which I hoped to do to the death that enemy of France. And also I felt
my heart spring to the protection of the honor of great Gouverneur
Faulkner, who had given me a comrade's salute within a few hours past;
and also to the protection of the honor of my house in the person of
my Uncle, the General Robert.

"Indeed, I have much joy that I was given the opportunity to know the
very beautiful Madam Whitworth at so early a time in my life in