se, if you stole anything, it would be taken out
of my wages."

Deering's interest in her increased.

She rested her chin on her hand just as his sister often did when they
lingered together at table. He was a good brother and Constance was his
standard. He was sure that Constance would like Pierrette's maid. He
resented Hood's patronizing attitude toward the girl, but Hood's spirits
were soaring and there was no checking him.

"Babette," he began, "I'm going to trouble you with a question, not
doubting you will understand that my motives are those of a philosopher
whose whole life has been devoted to the study of the human race. May I
ask you to state in all sincerity whether you consider apple sauce the
essential accompaniment of roast duck?"

"I do not; nor do I care for jelly with venison," she answered readily.

"Admirable! You are clearly no child of convention but an independent
thinker! May I smoke? Thanks!"

He drew out his pipe and turned beaming to the glowering Deering.

"There, my boy! Babette is one of us--one of the great company of the
stars! Wonderful, how you find them at every turn! Babette, my sister, I
salute you!"

She smiled and turned toward Deering.

"Are you, too, one of the Comrades of Perpetual Youth?" she inquired
gravely.

"I am," Deering declared heartily, and they smiled at each other; "but
I'm only a novice--a brother of the second class."

She shook her head.

"There can be no question of classes in the great comradeship--either we
are or we are not."

"Well spoken!" Hood assented, pushing back his chair and crossing his
legs comfortably.

"And you--do you and Pierrette think about things the same way?" Deering
asked.

"We do--by not thinking," Babette replied. "Thinking among the comrades
is forbidden, is it not?"

"Absolutely," Hood affirmed. "Our young brother here is still a little
weak in the faith, but he's taking to it splendidly."

"I'm new myself," Babette confessed.

"You're letter-perfect in the part," said Hood. "Perhaps you were driven
to it? Don't answer if you would be embarrassed by a confession."

The girl pondered a moment; her face grew grave, and she played nervously
with the sugar-tongs.

"A man loved me and I sent him away, and was sorry!" The last words fell
from her lips falteringly.

"He will come back--if he is worthy of one of the comradeship," said Hood
consolingly. "Even now he may be searching for you."

"I was unkind to him; I