ed to think she liked Phil Tremont, a boy she met out there, and
then I thought maybe it was Joyce's brother Jack. She talked so much
about the duck hunts they had together, and what a splendid fellow he
was, and how much her father admired him. But the Princess is so
particular that I believe the old darky told her fortune truly. If she's
so particular at fifteen, 'I'se powahful skeered she's gwine to be an
old maid. I sholy is.' For what will she be at twice fifteen?"

Gay laughed at the imitation of the old coloured woman, then asked: "But
doesn't your cousin come up to her standard? According to Maud Minor he
is as handsome as a Greek god, as accomplished as all the Muses put
together, and as entertaining as a four-ring circus."

"Oh, Malcolm's all right," answered Kitty. "We're awfully fond of him,
but we're not so crazy about him as to think all that. I have a picture
of him somewhere in my box of photographs, if you'd like to see it."

Climbing on a chair to reach the box on the top of the wardrobe, she
took it down and began rummaging through it. In a moment she tossed a
photograph to Gay, who still sat on the floor, Turk fashion.

[Illustration: "STUDYING THE FACE OF THE HANDSOME YOUNG FELLOW WITH
INTEREST"]

"Here is one he had taken years ago when he and Keith used to play they
were two little Knights of Kentucky, and went around trying to set the
wrongs of the world to rights."

While Gay was still exclaiming over it, she threw down another. "Here's
the one I was looking for. It was taken this summer at Narragansett Pier
on his polo pony."

Gay seized it, studying the face of the handsome young fellow with
interest. "Why, he's almost grown!" she cried.

"Yes, he's nearly eighteen, and he is even better looking than that
picture. And here's Keith, the one I'm so fond of. We always have so
much fun when they come out to grandmother's for the holidays."

The box slipped and the entire contents showered over the floor. Gay
helped her to put them back into the box, glancing at each one as she
did so. One in a cadet uniform attracted her attention.

"Who's this? Now _he's_ the one I'd like to know. I suppose it's because
I've lived at an army post always that I adore anything military. _He_
looks interesting."

Kitty leaned over to look. "Oh, that's my brother Ranald. He's away at
military school. Won't he be teased when I tell him what you said? He's
dreadfully bashful with girls, though you'd think h