he red road whirled the gorgeous limousine. There were
two men on the box. Kemp, who had been fluttering around Dalton with
an umbrella, darted into the waiting-room for the bags. The door of
the limousine was opened by the footman, who also had an umbrella
ready. Dalton hesitated, his eyes on that shabby group by the
mud-stained surrey. He made up his mind suddenly and approached young
Paine.

"We can take one of you in here. You'll be crowded with all of those
bags."

"Not a bit. We'll manage perfectly, thank you," Randy's voice
dismissed him.

He went, with a lingering glance backward. Becky, catching that
glance, waked suddenly to the fact that he was very good-looking. "It
was kind of him to offer, Randy."

"Was it?"

Nothing more was said, but Becky wondered a bit as they drove on. She
liked Major Prime. He was an old dear. But why had Randy thanked
Heaven that the other man was not the Major?

III

The Waterman motor passed the surrey, and Dalton, straining his eyes
for a glimpse of the pretty girl, was rewarded only by a view of Randy
on the front seat with his back turned on the world, while he talked
with someone hidden by the curtains.

Perhaps the fact that she was hidden by the curtains kept Dalton's
thoughts upon her. He felt that her beauty must shine even among the
shadows--he envied Major Prime, who sat next to her.

The Major was aware that his position was enviable. It was worth much
to watch these two young people, eager in their reunion. "Becky
Bannister, whom I have known all my life," had been Randy's
presentation of the little lady with the shining hair.

"Grandfather doesn't know that I came, or Aunt Claudia. They felt that
your mother ought to see you first and so did I. Until the last
minute. Then I saw Jefferson driving by--I was down at the gate to
wave to you, Randy--and I just came----" her gay laugh was
infectious--the men laughed with her.

"You must let me out when we get to Huntersfield, and you mustn't
tell--either of you. We are all to dine together to-night at your
house, Randy, and when you meet me, you are to say--'_Becky_'--just as
you did to-day, as if I had fallen from the skies."

"Well, you did fall--straight," Randy told her. "Becky, you are too
good to be true; oh, you're too pretty to be true. Isn't she, Major?"

"It is just because I am--American. Are you glad to get back to us,
Randy?"

"Glad," he drew a long breath. Nellie, w