said, 'Yes, south
of Market Street,' but refrained in time. I had on the new apricot
crepe, and a black hat, and felt very Lily-like-a-princess, as Jane
says.

"But we're both getting homesick; it will seem good to see the old ferry
building again--and Sausalito, and all of you."

Early in July they did start homeward, but by so circuitous a route, and
with such prolonged stops at the famous hotels of Canada, that it was on
a September afternoon that they found themselves taking the Toland
household by storm. And Julia thought no experience in her travels so
sweet as this one: to be received into the heart of the family, and to
settle down to a review of the past five months. Richie was so brotherly
and kind, the girls so admiring of her furs and her diamonds, so full of
gay chatter, the old doctor so gallant and so affectionate! Mrs. Toland
chirped and twittered like the happy mother of a cageful of canaries;
and Julia, when they gathered about the fire after dinner, took a low
stool next to Miss Toland's chair and rested a shoulder, little-girl
fashion, against the older woman's knee.

"It was simply a tour of triumph for Ju," said Doctor Jim, packing his
pipe at the fireplace, with satisfied eyes on his wife. "She has friends
in the Ghetto and friends in the White House. We went down to the
Duponts', on Long Island, and Dupont said she--"

"Oh, please, Jim!" Julia said seriously.

"Dupont said she was one of the most interesting women he ever talked
to," Jim continued inexorably, "and John Mandrake wanted to paint her!"

"Tell me the news!" begged Julia. "How's The Alexander, Aunt Sanna--how
is Miss Striker turning out?"

"She's turned out," said Miss Toland grimly, her knitting needles
flashing steadily. "She came to me with her charts and rules, and oh,
she couldn't lie in bed after half-past six in the morning, and she
couldn't put off the sewing class, and she would like to ask me not to
eat my breakfast after nine o'clock! A girl who never cared what she
ate--sardines and tea!--and she wouldn't come in with me to dinner at
the Colonial because she was afraid they used coal tar and
formaldehyde--ha! Finally she asked me if I wouldn't please keep the
expenditures of the house and my own expenditures separate, and that was
the _end_!"

Jim's great laugh burst out, and Julia dimpled as she asked demurely:

"What on _earth_ did you say?"

"Say? I asked her if she knew I built The Alexander, and sent her