she had known three months before? Cosden could but
see her surprise and it pleased him.

"I told you I should find out what was the matter with me. Have I
partially succeeded?"

"Yes," she acknowledged frankly; "what did it?"

"Huntington and--you."

"But you couldn't change like this in so short a time; no one could."

"Most of it is probably on the surface," he admitted cheerfully.
"Underneath is the same Cosden branded with the ear-marks of his
business. But I'm on my way, and if there's enough of a change to have
you notice it, then there's hope!"

"Have you seen the Thatchers?" Edith asked, not knowing just how to
answer him.

"I saw Mr. Thatcher yesterday. He asked me to dine with them to-night,
but I thought I'd wait until next time I'm over. He says Mrs. Thatcher
is planning to have our whole Bermuda party down at the shore in July.
You will be there, of course?"

"If it's in July, I shall be. Marian has invited me to spend the month
with her."

"Good! that was one of the things I called to find out."

"What are the others?"

"Whether you are forgiving and--forgetful."

Edith laughed at the serious way he asked the question.

"Are you laughing at me or with me?" he demanded half in earnest.

"Why, I don't know what to make of you."

"Make whatever you like,--it's in your hands!"

"But I feel we ought to become acquainted all over again.

"So do I; that is another one of the things I wanted to find out.--Will
you dine with me to-night, and then go to the theater afterwards?"

"Why--" she hesitated.

"It's the best possible way to get acquainted over again," he insisted.

"I'm not sure that I want to," Edith retorted; "but I will admit that
you've excited my curiosity."

"That's something," Cosden replied good-naturedly. "Why isn't an evening
together the easiest way to satisfy it?"

"All right," Edith said with sudden decision. "I really must know more
about this."

"The veneer may wear off before the evening is over."

"That's what I'm thinking," she answered frankly. "I'm wondering how
deep it really goes."

* * * * *

XXV

* * * * *

Easter came to New York, as it did to other places, and with it came
Billy Huntington and Philip to the Thatchers. "Always have something to
radiate from," some one once advised, "if only a fly-speck." To Billy,
Boston was the fly-speck, entirely satisfactory as a point of