ing their hats the men separated, with but a passing
thought of their former differences.

The presence of Plaisted in the town was a great surprise to the Sherwood
family, and Dexie heard of his intended visit with a frown.

"I am astonished, papa, that you could ask him to call after all that has
happened; but it is like his impudence to accept the invitation, which he
might know was more an act of courtesy than a desire to renew his
acquaintance."

"Let bygones be forgotten, Dexie; it is poor policy to remember old scores
too long. It is enough that there will never be any more business relations
between us. His stay in town is likely to be short, so there is no fear
that he will trouble any of us long."

"Well, I hope you will be careful, and not say anything that he can
misconstrue into an invitation to remain with us overnight. But it will be
just like him to stay, and stay, and stay, till it is too late to go back
to the hotel," said Dexie. "But if he manages, after all, to foist himself
upon us, I'll take a cook's privilege and leave the house--until he is out
of it in the morning, anyway. So remember, papa, I have 'given warning,'"
and she shook her finger at him as she turned to leave the room.

But there was no frown on Gussie's face when she heard of Plaisted's
expected visit. She was only anxious to appear at her best, so she retired
to her chamber and spent the intervening time over a toilet that was meant
to impress Mr. Plaisted afresh. She was ready as ever to turn a listening
ear to his flattery, though she had ample opportunity to realize how empty
and meaningless were his words.

The family were assembled in the parlor when Mr. Plaisted was announced,
and he found no cause to complain of his reception, for even Dexie's cool
bow and formal greeting were so much like her former treatment of him that
when she ignored his offered hand he did not resent it openly. But in his
heart he vowed to "get even" with her. The frigid stare with which she
regarded him when he attempted to draw her into conversation reminded him
of past discomfitures, and, forgetting that he seldom came off victor when
crossing swords with Dexie, he determined to pay off old scores with
interest. As his business kept him in town for several days, his calls were
quite frequent, but he found no chance of annoying Dexie, save by the one
small and spiteful way of addressing her as "Miss Dexter," and the quick,
angry glance that was f