's hands.

The girl heard the declaration and essayed to rise while her eyes fixed
on the round face bending over her.

"I want to go with you," she said.

"And you're going, my lamb," returned Miss Mehitable.

"Certainly, you shall have the car," said Mrs. Barry suavely.

She wished to send word to the chauffeur, she wished to give Geraldine
tea, she was entirely polite and sufficiently solicitous, but her heir
looked terrible things, and, bringing around the car, himself drove the
guests to Miss Upton's Fancy Goods and Notions.

Geraldine declined his help to walk to the door of the shop. Miss Upton
had her arm around her, and though the girl was pale she gave her
rescuer a look full of gratitude; and when he pressed her hand she
answered the pressure and restored a portion of his equanimity.

"I never, never shall forget this happiest day of my life," she said.

"And don't forget we are going to get Pete," he responded eagerly,
holding her hand close, "and everything is going to come out right."

"Yes"--she looked doubtful and frightened; "but if you get Pete don't
let your mother see him. She is--she couldn't bear it."

"Don't judge her, Geraldine," he begged. "She is glorious. Ask Miss
Upton. Just a little--a little shy at first, you know. Miss Upton, you
explain, won't you?"

"Don't fret, Ben," said Miss Mehitable. "You're the best boy on earth,
and I want to hear all about it, for I'm sure you did something
wonderful to get her."

"Yes, wonderful, Miss Upton!" echoed Geraldine, with another
heart-warming smile at her deliverer whose own smile lessened and died
as he walked back to his car. By the time he entered it he was frowning,
thinking of his "shy" mother.

CHAPTER XI

Mother and Son

Miss Upton had looked upon the parting amenities of the two young people
with beaming approval; and Geraldine's first words when they were alone
astonished her.

As soon as they were inside the shop and the door closed, the young girl
looked earnestly into her friend's eyes. Miss Mehitable returned her
regard affectionately. The golden hair had been wound up and secured
with Mrs. Barry's hairpins.

"I wish there were some way by which I need never see him again," she
said.

"Why, Miss Melody, child, what do you mean? Every word I told you in my
letter was true. Perhaps you never got it, but I told you that he is the
_finest_--"

"Yes, yes, I believe it," was the hasty reply. "I did receive your