ice from the doorway
took up the song with him.

With a startled cry of "Nora!" Grace ran to the door.

The song came to an abrupt end. Miriam whirled on the piano stool. One
glance and she had joined the group that now surrounded a slender figure
with a rosy, laughing face and a saucy turned-up nose.

"Nora O'Malley! You dear thing! No wonder David didn't hear from Hippy.
But where is he? Not far away, I hope."

"Ah!" called a voice from behind the thin silk curtain of a small alcove
at one end of the hall, and Hippy emerged, the picture of offended
dignity. "Missed at last," was his sweeping rebuke. "I had begun to
think I was doomed to languish behind that green silk curtain for life.
It's all Nora's fault. If I had been immured there forever and always,
it would be her fault just the same. She proposed that I should hide.
'Make them think I came alone. They will be so disappointed,' was her
deceitful counsel. And I believed her and wrapped myself in the curtain
to wait for you to be disappointed. I see it all now. It was merely a
scheme to attract attention to herself. She is jealous of my
popularity."

"Oh, hush, you wicked thing," giggled Nora. "You didn't give any one
time even to ask for you."

"That sounds well," was Hippy's lofty retort, "but remember, all that
prattles is not truth."

"Squabbling as usual," groaned David, shaking Hippy's hand with an
energy that belied the groan.

"Just as usual," smirked Hippy. "Neither of us will ever outgrow it. You
see we once lived in a town called Oakdale and associated daily with a
number of very quarrelsome people. I wouldn't like to mention their
names, but if some day you should happen to go to Oakdale just ask any
one if David Nesbit and Reddy Brooks ever reformed. They'll understand
what you mean."

"Your Oakdale friends will have cause to inquire what awful fate has
overtaken you if you don't reform speedily," warned David. "I'm obliged
to stand your insults because you are company. Just wait until the
newness of seeing you again wears off, and then see what happens."

"You don't have to show me," flung back Hippy hastily. "I'll take your
word for it. I believe in words, not deeds. You know I used to be so
fond of quoting that immortal stanza about doing noble deeds instead of
dreaming them all day long. Well, I've altered that to fit any little
occasion that might arise. I find it much more comforting to say it this
way:

"Be wise, dear Hippy,