Yet without money, and in a costume which could but lay her open to
suspicion, what was she to do? Where was she to go?

As the young man let himself into his home with his latch-key, he heard
the butler's well trained voice answering the telephone. "Yes, ma'am;
this is Mrs. Dunham's residence.... No, ma'am, she is not at home.... No,
ma'am, Miss Dunham is out also.... Mr. Dunham? Just wait a moment, please
I think Mr. Dunham has just come in. Who shall I say wishes to speak to
him?... Mrs. Parker Bowman?... Yes, ma'am; just wait a minute, please.
I'll call Mr. Dunham."

The young man frowned. Another interruption! And Miss Bowman! It was at
her house that he was to dine. What could the woman want? Surely it was
not so late that she was looking him up. But perhaps something had
happened, and she was calling off her dinner. What luck if she was! Then
he would be free to attend the problem of the young woman whom fate, or
Providence, had suddenly thrust upon his care.

He took the receiver, resolved to get out of going to the dinner if it
were possible.

"Good evening, Mrs. Bowman."

"Oh, is that you, Mr. Dunham? How relieved I am! I am in a bit of
difficulty about my dinner, and called up to see if your sister couldn't
help me out. Miss Mayo has failed me. Her sister has had an accident, and
she cannot leave her. She has just 'phoned me, and I don't know what to
do. Isn't Cornelia at home? Couldn't you persuade her to come and help me
out? She would have been invited in Miss Mayo's place if she had not told
me that she expected to go to Boston this week. But she changed her plans,
didn't she? Isn't she where you could reach her by 'phone and beg her to
come and help me out? You see, it's a very particular dinner, and I've
made all my arrangements."

"Well, now, that's too bad, Mrs. Bowman," began the young man, thinking he
saw a way out of both their difficulties. "I'm sorry Cornelia isn't here.
I'm sure she would do anything in her power to help you. But she and
mother were to dine in Chestnut Hill to-night, and they must have left the
house half an hour ago. I'm afraid she's out of the question. Suppose you
leave me out? You won't have any trouble then except to take two plates
off the table"--he laughed pleasantly--"and you would have even couples.
You see," he hastened to add, as he heard Mrs. Parker Bowman's preliminary
dissent--"you see, Mrs. Bowman, I'm in somewhat of a predicament myself.
My train was late