raction! Where is she? I'll show her very soon that she _can't_ back
out. They would mob us if she failed to appear. Why, I couldn't go either
if she did not."

"Softly, softly, my son," laying her hand on his arm. "Wait a moment till I
explain further. Dexie is not one to be forced into doing a thing she does
not like, and if you talk to her in that strain you will only strengthen
her determination to stay at home. She must be treated differently if we
would gain her full consent, and nothing short of that will do. I have
watched her face, and I know that unless quiet measures are used she will
resist to the last. My boy, I am quite as anxious as you are about it, so
do not look so wild. Listen to my plan."

Lancy's excitement cooled down as he listened to his mother's advice, and
he promised to do his part if sufficient self-control were granted him.

CHAPTER XVI.

When they met around the dinner-table Lancy was strangely silent, though
his eyes shone with suppressed feeling, and Dexie began to hope that the
subject of the concert would not be broached; but her hopes were rudely
shattered as Mr. Gurney turned his smiling face and said:

"So you have honored us with your company to-day, Miss Dexie. Are you
aware, wife, that our young neighbor has found a place in the hearts of the
public, though her identity is hidden as yet under the sweet sounding title
of 'American Warbler?' Every one is asking, 'Who is it?'"

Some commonplace remark from Mrs. Gurney, followed by a warning look,
caused the subject to be suddenly changed, and in the conversation that
followed, the angry flush faded from Dexie's cheeks, the firm shut mouth
relaxed; but the workings of her mind were not quite hidden from the
motherly eyes that watched her so closely.

Dexie was fully determined not to go to the concert, yet she would not have
cared to confess it to those around her, knowing how shocked they would be
at such a resolution. Somehow the matter looked different while she was
among them as one of the family. She was sure that the high sense of honor
that prevailed among the Gurneys would be sufficient to make any of them
fulfil a promise once made, even at a great sacrifice to themselves.

But she would not. No! not if they despised her for it! She would not put
up with that impudent advertisement, and she laid down her knife and fork
quite suddenly, and clasped her hands in her lap in that close grasp that
always told when he