. Miss Dott and I are finding the
social whirl a bit tiresome; you will escape that, at least."

Captain Dan appeared at the entrance to the drawing-room.

"I say, Hungerford! Percy!" he hailed impatiently.

Mr. Hungerford did not seem to hear him. He was regarding Miss Dott with
anxious concern.

"Really, Gertrude," he said, "I shouldn't stand by that open door, if
I were you. You have a slight cold and for--all our sakes--you must be
careful. Step inside, I beg of you."

His begging was so tender, so solicitous, so intimate. John Doane's
fists clenched.

"Hi!" It was the cabman calling from the street. "Hi! we've only got
twelve minutes to catch that train."

John turned, involuntarily, toward the door. Gertrude, startled by the
cabman's voice and aware of the need of haste, stepped to one side.
Cousin Percy chose to put his own interpretation upon her movement.

"Thank you, Gertrude," he said feelingly. "That's better; you will be
out of the draft there. Thank you."

John Doane, who was still hesitating, hesitated no longer. He seized his
bag.

"Good-by, all," he said, in a choked voice. "Good-by, Captain Dott."

He strode through the doorway. Gertrude, for a moment, remained where
she was. Then she followed him.

"John!" she cried, "John!"

John, half way down the steps, halted, turned, and looked up at her.

"Good-by, Gertie," he said.

"But, John, are you--aren't you--"

She stretched out her hands. Mr. Hungerford, pushing by the captain and
Serena, stepped in front of her.

"Here, you!" he shouted, addressing the cabman; "what are you thinking
about? Why don't you take the gentleman's bag?"

The driver sprang to get the bag, incidentally he seized his prospective
passenger by the arm.

"Come on!" he shouted. "Come on! We'll miss the train. Ten to one we've
missed it, anyhow."

"Oh, DO hurry, John!" cried Serena, anxiously. "You WILL miss it. You
MUST go!"

And Mr. Doane went. The cab rattled away up the street, the old horse
galloping, the driver shouting, and the whip cracking. Daniel drew a
long breath.

"Well!" he said slowly, "he's gone. Yes, sir, he's gone, ain't he."

Serena turned on him.

"Yes, he's gone," she observed sarcastically, "but he isn't going very
fast. Why in the world didn't you order an electric cab instead of that
Noah's Ark? Half the neighbors have been waked up and they'll see it.
How many times must I tell you? You NEVER learn!"

"Well, now, Serena--"