portal.

Patricia, Hannah Ann, and the Haldens met on the blue rug, and Patricia
was the first to find her voice.

"Well, of all people in the world!" she cried delightedly to the
newcomers. "Where _did_ you come from? Why aren't you in Paris? And
where's Mr. Bingham?"

A tall, good-looking man in tweeds was shaking hands heartily with
Hannah Ann, while an esthetically dressed, rather languid young lady in
pastel green was trying to introduce a pretty, smiling blond girl in
black furs whom Patricia easily recognized as the original of the
photograph that had stood on Mr. Lindley's desk at Greycroft, and the
Haldens were explaining how they heard that the Lindleys were in town
and so had come in on an earlier train specially to capture them for
the house-breaking.

Patricia bubbled with enjoyment of the surprise. She kissed Mrs.
Bingham and Mrs. Lindley, too, though she had never laid eyes on her
before, and she came near kissing the tall Mr. Lindley, much to the
edification of the others who had rushed from the sitting-room at the
sound of the outcry.

Griffin and other intimates were introduced to the late Miss Auborn and
the professor, both of whom had starred as boarders in the past summer
at Greycroft when, at Judith's suggestion, the three girls had tried to
retrieve their broken fortunes by means of "paying guests."

"Mr. Bingham will be along presently," said the late Miss Auborn with
great composure, arranging her draperies with a careful hand. She was
looking remarkably smart and it was evident that the amiable Mr.
Bingham had totally eclipsed Art for her. "We only met the Lindleys by
chance and Ferdinand had some business to transact that could not wait."

Patricia studied her with eager interest. The bride of half a year was
still a bride to her, and the transformation of the limp, bedraggled
art student into this languid, elegant young lady was an affair that
had its beginnings at Greycroft, for it was under that hospitable roof
that Mr. Bingham had first seen Miss Auborn. In the merry Babel of the
studio party Mrs. Bingham held her own with a calm assurance that Miss
Auborn had not possessed, and when Mr. Bingham, pink and smiling as
ever and just a bit more bald, joined them, the air of mild authority
with which she welcomed that gentleman impressed Patricia even more
strongly.

As they went back to the flower-decked sitting-room, Judith edged close
to whisper in her ear.

"I think Mis