intention of sulking, there would be little fun in a
picnic.

But Patty Fairfield was no spoilsport. She was annoyed at Philip, but
that was no reason for her to make the others uncomfortable, and she
responded gaily, "Oh, yes, the picnic is lots more fun. But will the
house be warm enough?"

"Yes," Mona answered, "we telephoned down last night for Mr. Bates, the
caretaker, to make some fires, and we can pile logs in the big hall
fireplace till we roast alive. We can have the feast in the hall, if
the dining-room is chilly."

But they found the whole house fairly warm and distinctly cheery and
homey-looking. Bates had aired and dusted it, and had built fires and
altogether the beautiful rooms looked so attractive, that Mona declared
she was half inclined not to give it up, after all.

"We could rent it some years, Roger," she said, "and live in it some
years, if we wanted to."

"Just as you say, Mona," he replied; "it's your house. Wait until
spring to decide, if you prefer."

"All right," said Van Reypen, "but I fear we must decide on the house
we buy before that. For we want to get the place we're to have in
order as soon as Spring pokes her nose in."

"We'll have luncheon first," Mona decided, "and then discuss the
matter."

The men opened the hampers, and the girls set the table in the great
hall, near the roaring wood fire that filled the enormous fireplace.
Salads and sandwiches, carefully packed, were in faultless condition,
and the numerous Thermos bottles held hot soup, coffee, and chocolate.
A small freezer of ice cream appeared from somewhere, and a box of
confectionery contented the girls while the men smoked after the repast.

"It's this way," said Roger, at last, when they had talked over the
whole thing thoroughly, "Mona and I are considering our future,--yes,
even our old age! And, so, there are some points that we want to
discuss alone. Therefore, and wherefore, my friends,--my future wife
and I will, if you please, go apart by ourselves for a bit of
confidential chat."

"Good gracious, Roger," said Patty, "anybody would think you two were
married already!"

"Same as," Roger retorted; "especially in matters of real estate, and
future dwelling-houses and such things. But, really, what I'm going to
do, is, to try to persuade, cajole, or coerce Mona into selling the
place; for I know she doesn't really want it, only today, in the
glamour of this firelight glow, it seems attractive