er it swinging the new sign in gallant
crimson and white, that announced to all the world that Outside Inn
was even at that moment, at its most punctilious service.

Molly and Dolly, in the prescribed blue chambray, their cheeks several
shades pinker than their embellishment of pink ribbon, and panting
with ill-suppressed excitement, rushed forward to greet the four and
ushered them solemnly to their places,--the gala table in the center
of the court, set with a profusion of fleur de lis, with pink ribbon
trainers. Thanks to Dick's carefully manipulated advertising campaign
and personal efforts among his friends and business associates, they
were not by any means the first arrivals. Half a dozen laughing groups
were distributed about the round tables in the center space, while
several tete-a-tete couples were confidentially ensconced in corners
and at cozy tables for two, craftily sheltered by some of the most
imposing of the marble figures and columns.

"It seems like a real restaurant," Caroline said wonderingly.

"What did you think it would seem like?" Betty asked argumentatively.
"Just because Nancy is the best friend you have in the world, and
you're familiar with her in pig-tails and a dressing-gown doesn't
argue that she is incapable of managing an undertaking like this as
well as if she were a perfect stranger."

"I don't suppose it does," Caroline mused, "but someway I'd feel
easier about a perfect stranger investing her last cent in such a
venture. I don't see how she can possibly make it pay, and I don't
feel as if I could ever have a comfortable moment again until I knew
whether she could or not.--What are you looking so guilty about,
Billy?"

"I was regretting your uncomfortable moments, Caroline," Billy said,
"and wishing it were in my power to do away with them, but it isn't. I
was also musing sadly, but quite irrelevantly, on the tangled web we
weave when first we practise to deceive."

"Are you deceiving Caroline in some way?" Dick inquired.

"No, he isn't," Caroline answered for him, "though he has full
permission to if he wants."

"The time may come when he will avail himself of that permission,"
Betty said; "you ought to be careful how you tempt Fate, Caroline."

"She ought to be," Billy groaned, "but the fact is that I am not one
of the things she is superstitious about. Pipe the dame at the corner
table with the lorgnette. Classy, isn't she?"

"Friend of my aunt's," Dick said, acknowle