one that went without
incident....

* * * * *

Penton and Darrie were indeed home before us.

"Where have you two been all this time," Penton asked, a slight touch of
querulousness in his voice.

"Oh, Johnnie and I have been out for a walk, too!" replied Hildreth in
an even voice.

* * * * *

At lunch, the next day,--a day when Penton was called in to Philadelphia
on business--while Darrie, Ruth, Hildreth and I sat talking together
peacefully about our outdoor board, Hildreth suddenly threw a third of a
glass of milk on Darrie's shirt-waist front.

We were astounded.

"Why, Hildreth, what does this mean?" I asked.

"I won't stop to explain," she said, "but from now on I won't stay in
the same house with her ... I'm going to move this afternoon, down to
Penton's house" (meaning the little cottage but a few steps from my
tent).... Ruth rose to intercede ... "Don't Ruth, don't! I want to be
let alone." And Hildreth hurried away.

"What in the world could be the matter with Hildreth?" I asked of Ruth.
Darrie had also departed, to the big house, to rub her blouse quickly,
so that no stain would remain.

"Hildreth's capricious," answered Ruth, "but the plain explanation is
downright jealousy."

"Jealousy?"

"Yes ... even though Hildreth no longer loves Penton, she's jealous of
him ... the fact is, Hildreth doesn't know what she wants."

"But Darrie--Darrie is her friend?"

"Of course ... and remains her friend. Darrie doesn't want Penton. She
only pities him."

I quoted the line about pity being akin to love ... "they do a lot of
strolling together."

"Yes. But there's nothing between them ... not even a kiss ... of that
I'm certain. Darrie is as cool as a cucumber ... and Penton is as shy
with women as--you are!"

I smiled to myself. If Ruth had seen us that preceding afternoon!

"Of course the fault could not all be on Hildreth's side."

"No, they're both a couple of ninnies ... but there's this to be said
for Penton, he's trying to get something done for the betterment of
humanity ... while Hildreth's only a parasite."

"And Darrie--how about her? What does she do but loaf around in a more
conventional manner, talking about her social prestige, the dress of one
of her ancestresses in the Boston Museum, her aristocratic affiliations
... how many and how faithful those negro servants of hers are, down
South ... between the two, Hildret