ow
embarrassing that would be! He had seen her only in a half-light as yet.
How had he dared?

But it was too late now, for she was coming from the dressing-room, and
Mrs. Bowman was approaching them with outstretched hands, and a welcome in
her face.

"My dear Miss Remington, it is so good of you to help me out! I can see by
the first glance that it is going to be a privilege to know you. I can't
thank you enough for waiving formalities."

"It was very lovely of you to ask me," said the girl, with perfect
composure, "a stranger----"

"Don't speak of it, my dear. Mr. Dunham's friends are not strangers, I
assure you. Tryon, didn't you tell her how long we have known each other?
I shall feel quite hurt if you have never mentioned me to her. Now, come,
for my cook is in the last stages of despair over the dinner. Miss
Remington, how do you manage to look so fresh and lovely after a long sea
voyage? You must tell me your secret."

The young man looked down at the girl and saw that her dress was in
perfect taste for the occasion, and also that she was very young and
beautiful. He was watching her with a kind of proprietary pride as she
moved forward to be introduced to the other guests, when he saw her sweep
one quick glance about the room, and for just an instant hesitate and draw
back. Her face grew white; then, with a supreme effort, she controlled her
feelings, and went through her part with perfect ease.

When Judge Blackwell was introduced to the girl, he looked at her with
what seemed to Dunham to be more than a passing interest; but the keen
eyes were almost immediately transferred to his own face, and the young
man had no further time to watch his protege, as dinner was immediately
announced.

Miss Remington was seated next to Dunham at the table, with the Judge on
her other side. The young man was pleased with the arrangement, and sat
furtively studying the delicate tinting of her face, the dainty line of
cheek and chin and ear, the sweep of her dark lashes, and the ripple of
her brown hair, as he tried to converse easily with her, as an old friend
might.

At length the Judge turned to the girl and said:

"Miss Remington, you remind me strongly of a young woman who was in my
office this afternoon."

The delicate color flickered out of the girl's face entirely, leaving even
her lips white, but she lifted her dark eyes bravely to the kindly blue
ones, and with sweet dignity baffled the questioned recogni