ld not listen.

"Don't, Mother!" she cried, "you are wasting time. We shall be late, as
it is. John knows that my going is necessary, or I should not do it. He
trusts me to that extent, I hope."

"Of course," said Mr. Doane heartily. "Run along and don't say any more
about it. Come back as soon as you can, that's all. Shan't I come after
you? I can wait outside until the thing is over."

"No; I don't intend to wait until it is over. Mother and I can take a
cab. Come, Mother."

Serena reluctantly led the way to the hall. Hapgood opened the door.

"One moment, Mother," said Gertrude. She left Serena on the step and
hurried back to the drawing-room. Captain Dan and John were standing
there in silence.

"Daddy," said the young lady, "I think I left my pocketbook upstairs in
my room. Will you get it for me?"

The captain ran to the stairs. Gertrude stepped quickly over to her
lover.

"John," she whispered, "you will forgive me, won't you, dear? I MUST go.
It will spoil everything if I don't. You see--why, Daddy! you haven't
found that pocketbook so soon!"

Daniel had reappeared in the doorway.

"I sent Hapgood for it," he announced. "It's a good thing to make him
work once in a while. What's the use of my runnin' errands when I pay
him wages to run 'em for me? He'll be down in a minute."

Gertrude did not seem pleased. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Well, never mind.
Why! here is the pocketbook in my bag, after all. Good-by, John. I
will hurry back. You and Daddy will have a lot to talk about, I know.
Good-by."

The door closed behind her. Captain Dan stepped to the foot of the
stairs.

"Found it yet?" he shouted.

Hapgood answered from above.

"No, sir, not yet."

"Then keep on lookin' till you do. It's a good excuse to keep him out
of the way," he explained, turning to Mr. Doane. "He makes me nervous,
hangin' around and lookin' at me. I never was brought up to a butler and
I can't get used to this one. Come on into the sittin'-room--library, I
mean. The furniture ain't so everlastin' straight up and down there and
there's somethin' to smoke--or there ought to be, if Cousin Percy ain't
smoked it first. Come on, John."

In the library, with lighted cigars and in comfortable easy chairs, the
two men looked at each other.

"Well, John," began the captain, "you--you come, didn't you?"

"Yes, of course. I should have come as soon as I got your letter, but I
couldn't get away. I was going to tell you that."

"Y