, Connie," he continued, "that if you're afraid to take
chances with a boy like that I don't feel much confidence in the final
outcome of your benedictine expedition."

"I'm serious in this," Cosden snapped back. "My bump of humor evidently
got light-struck in the developing. Billy has twenty years ahead of him
to pick out a girl while I haven't, and he must understand that I mean
business."

"Of course he must," agreed Huntington. "It hadn't occurred to me until
you spoke of it that there was the remotest chance of having Billy show
sense enough to become interested in any girl so well calculated to
make a man of him. In fact, I doubt very much whether his own intellect
has carried him so far. It's all right for you or me to contemplate
committing matrimony, but a young man, in these days of increasing cost
of everything, is likely to become a grandfather before he can afford to
be a father. Only the other day, Connie, the thought came to me that if
this high cost of living continues it will make death a necessity of
life."

"You are evidently in no frame of mind to discuss anything serious now,"
Cosden retorted; "I'll wait until after dinner."

"Do!" Huntington's face brightened. "Look at the reproachful expression
on the bosom of that beautiful white shirt which Dixon has laid out for
me. Can't you almost hear the pathos in its tone as it asks to be
filled?"

The door slammed, and Cosden's heavy tread could be heard as he
disgustedly retreated down the hall to his own room.

One of the compensations of maturity is that the adjustment of proper
proportions comes more quickly than to youth. It may be that Cosden saw
the modicum of truth which lay beneath his friend's bantering; it may be
that he was ashamed to have shown any uncertainty in his mind as to the
final outcome of his embassy. At all events, he seemed to be in the best
of humor when he dined with Huntington and the boy, and even accepted
with good grace the unexpected announcement that Billy and Merry were to
"take in" the dance at the "Hamilton." It may be that he was determined
to demonstrate his strength of mind, for when the little party
reassembled on the piazza, and the young people disappeared soon after
the coffee, he devoted himself to Edith Stevens with an assiduity which
caused Huntington to smile quietly to himself. Stevens and Thatcher,
finding the ladies well provided for, went down-stairs for a game of
billiards. Mrs. Thatcher cheerfull