arian was on Harwood's hands. Her bland airs of
proprietorship amused him when they did not annoy him, and when he
ventured to remonstrate with her for her unnecessary abandonment of
school to take care of her mother, her pretty _moue_ had mitigated his
impatience. She knew the value of her prettiness. Dan was a young man
and Marian was not without romantic longings. Just what passed between
her and her mother Harwood could not know, but the hand that ruled
indulgently in health had certainly not gained strength in sickness.

This was in January when the theatres were offering an unusual variety
of attractions. Dan had been obliged to refuse--more harshly than was
agreeable--to take Marian to see a French farce that had been widely
advertised by its indecency. Her cool announcement that she had read it
in French did not seem to Harwood to make an educational matter of it;
but he was obliged finally to compromise with her on another play. Her
mother was quite comfortable, she averred; there was no reason why she
should not go to the theatre, and she forced the issue by getting the
tickets herself.

That evening when they reached their seats Dan observed that Allen
Thatcher sat immediately in front of them. He turned and nodded to Dan,
and his eyes took in Marian. In a moment she murmured an inquiry as to
who the young man was; and Harwood was aware thereafter that Marian
divided her attention between Allen and the stage. Allen turned once or
twice in the entr'actes with some comment on the play, and Marian was
pleased with his profile; moreover he bore a name with which she had
long been familiar. As the curtain fell she whispered to Harwood:--

"You must introduce me to Mr. Thatcher,--please--! His father and papa
are friends, and I've heard so much about the family that I just have
to know him."

Harwood looked down at her gravely to be sure it was not one of her
jokes, but she was entirely serious. He felt that he must take a stand
with her; if her father and mother were unaware of her venturesome
nature he still had his responsibility, and it was not incumbent on him
to widen her acquaintance.

"No!" he said flatly.

But Marian knew a trick or two. She loitered by her seat adjusting her
wrap with unnecessary deliberation. Allen, wishing to arrange an
appointment with Dan for luncheon the next day, waited for him to come
into the aisle. Dan had not the slightest idea of introducing his charge
to Allen or to any