at the moment; then he looked back at Timothy once more, and he could
easily tell that Timothy's somber blue eyes had seen just exactly what
he had seen; Arethusa and Mr. Bennet so obviously enjoying each other's
company.

"Shall I go over there and tell him, do you think, that he is giving
himself most unnecessary pain over my daughter's present state of mind,
which is only a phase? Or do you believe, my Fount of all Wisdom, that
I had best let matters stand as they are?"

"I'd really let him alone, Ross, about that, I think. For he wouldn't
believe a single word you could say to him. He has right now what he
considers conclusive evidence, what his own eyes have told him. He and
Arethusa are a pair of the youngest things I ever saw, bless their
hearts! But please do go talk to him about something, Ross, because I
cannot bear to see him follow that child around any longer with that
utterly hopeless expression."

So Ross, as a dutiful spouse, sauntered over to Timothy in his doorway
and made a most noble, and really commendable effort, considering the
total lack of real response he received, which is so dampening to all
such efforts, to interest him in conversation. Timothy answered with
all the politeness due to Mr. Worthington, but without the slightest
zeal for pursuit of any one of the subjects which were introduced, in
succession, as each one seemed to fail to arouse animation. Elinor's
real intention in sending her husband to fill this breach was not a
complete success, for the boy's eyes never once rested upon his
interlocutor; they still remained fixed wherever Arethusa was.

Timothy adhered to his announced intention of leaving on the following
morning, much to Arethusa's fury.

She tried coaxing and threats of future silence, and even tears; all to
no avail. Timothy's resolution was absolutely unshaken. His "Good-bye,
Arethusa!" was of the very essence of tragedy. Ross found it necessary
to look hastily in another direction.

"Please stay, Timothy," pleaded Arethusa for about the hundredth time,
even after this "Good-bye!" "Please stay!" Then as a supreme inducement
and a last resort.... "Mr. Bennet said last night that if you would, he
would get you an invitation to the January Cotillion next week.
Everybody is crazy for them; they give so awfully few away. But he can
get you one, and he said he'd be very glad to, too. He's a Governor,"
proudly.

She had been holding tight to Timothy's hands all this