-room, followed by Gertrude and--Mr. Percy
Hungerford. Captain Dan, remaining to close the door, came last.

"John," said Serena proudly, "we want you to meet our cousin, Mr.
Hungerford. Percy, this is John."

John and Hungerford exchanged looks. The latter gentleman extended a
gloved hand. "Charmed," he observed.

John expressed pleasure at the meeting. The pair shook hands.

"So--so Cousin Percy came home with you, did he?" inquired Daniel. "That
was kind of unexpected, wasn't it?"

Mr. Hungerford himself answered.

"Why," he declared, "not altogether, on my part I hoped for the
pleasure. It seemed rather rough for Miss Dott and her mother to come
alone, and so I hung about until the affair was over."

"He had a carriage all ready for us," declared Serena. "It was so
thoughtful of him."

"Not at all. Great pleasure, really."

Gertrude made the next remark.

"We did not need a carriage," she said. "Or, if we did, we could easily
have gotten one. Cousin Percy need not have troubled."

"John offered to come for you," said Daniel. "So did I. We'd have both
come, but you wouldn't have us. Wouldn't accept our invitation, would
they, John? Gave us to understand they didn't like our company."

"Cousin Percy did not wait for an invitation," explained Serena. "He
just came. He is so thoughtful."

Gertrude looked annoyed. She had been regarding Mr. Doane.

"Mother," she said sharply, "don't be silly. We did not ask for an
escort and we didn't need one. The whole thing was quite unnecessary and
unexpected. Come, Mother, do take off your things. Oh, I'm so glad to
get home."

The ladies retired to remove their wraps. John made a move to go to
their assistance, but Mr. Hungerford, attentive as usual, got ahead of
him.

"Well, Daddy dear," said Gertrude, as they re-entered, "what have you
and John been doing while we were away? I suppose you've had a long
talk?"

Daniel colored. He looked at Mr. Doane, who, in spite of himself,
colored also, and was tremendously annoyed because he did so.

"Yes," said the captain hastily. "Yes, we talked. We talked, didn't we,
John?"

"We did," affirmed John.

"I'm sure you did. And what about?"

"Oh--oh, about everything. How did the Chapter doin's go off? You're a
member now, I suppose, Gertie?"

"Yes," was the brief reply, "I am a member."

"Um-hm! Well, I hope you're satisfied--I mean I hope you'll like it.
Didn't make a speech, did you? Ha! ha!"

Gertrude did no