ian, who soon
grew calm, and then listened while Katy told why she returned. She
feared she had talked too much of her own affairs--too much of his
folks, who, after all, were nice, kind people, and she came to take
it back, asking Marian never to speak of it, as it might get to them
indirectly, and Wilford would be angry.

With a smile, as she thought how improbable it was that anything said to
her up in that humble room should reach to No. ---- Fifth Avenue, Marian
promised silence; and with a good-by kiss, given to convince Marian that
she was not proud, Katy again departed, and was soon driving toward
Madison Square. She was very happy that morning, for seeing Marian had
brought Silverton near to her, and airy as a bird she ran up the steps
of her own dwelling, where the door opened as by magic, and Wilford
himself confronted her, asking, with the tone which always made her
heart beat, where she had been, and he waiting for her two whole hours.
Surely it was not necessary to stop so long with a seamstress, he
continued when she tried to explain. Ten minutes would suffice for
directions, and he could not imagine what attractions there were in Miss
Hazelton to keep her there three hours, and then the real cause of his
vexation came out. He had come expressly for the carriage to take her
and Sybil Grandon to a picnic up the river, whither his mother, Juno and
Bell had already gone. Mrs. Grandon must wonder why he stayed so long,
and perhaps give up going. Could Katy be ready soon; and Wilford walked
rapidly up and down the parlor as he talked, with a restless motion of
his hands which always betokened impatience. Poor Katy, how the
brightness of the morning faded, and how averse she felt to joining that
picnic, which she knew had been in prospect for some time, and had
fancied she should enjoy. But not to-day, not with that cold, proud look
on Wilford's face, and the feeling that he was vexed. Still she could
think of no reasonable excuse, and so an hour later found her driving
into the country with Sybil Grandon, who received her apologies with as
much good-natured grace as if she had not worked herself into a passion
at the delay, for Sybil had been very cross and impatient; but all this
vanished when she met Wilford and saw that he, too, was disturbed and
irritated. Soft and sweet and smooth was she both in word and manner, so
that by the time the pleasant grove was reached Wilford's ruffled
spirits had been soothed