t after
luncheon."

"Thank you," he replied abstractedly.

She smiled at the reluctance in his eyes.

"David is going to stay to luncheon with me," she announced to Carey
as she came into the sitting room.

David winced at the huge bunch of violets fastened to her muff. He
remembered with a pang that Fletcher had left him that morning to go
to a florist's. After she had gone Mrs. Winthrop turned suddenly
toward him, as he was gazing wistfully at the closed door.

"David," she asked directly, "why did you refuse our invitation to
dine to-night?"

"Why--you see--Mrs. Winthrop--with so many engagements--there is a
factory meeting at five--"

"David, you are floundering! That is not like the frankly spoken boy
we used to know at Maplewood. I kept you to luncheon to tell you some
news that even Carey doesn't know yet. Mrs. Randall has written
insisting that we spend a week at Maplewood before we go West. As we
are in no special haste, I shall accept her hospitality."

David made no reply, and she continued:

"You are going home the day before election?"

"Yes, Mrs. Winthrop," he replied.

"We will go down with you, and I hope you will be neighborly while we
are in the country."

The bewildered look in his eyes deepened, and then a heartrending
solution of her graciousness came to him. Fletcher and Carey were
doubtless engaged, and this fact made Mrs. Winthrop feel secure in
extending hospitality to him.

"Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop," he said, a little bitterly. "You are very
kind."

"David," she asked, giving him a searching look. "What is the matter?
I thought you would be pleased at the thought of our spending a week
among you all."

He made a quick, desperate decision.

"Mrs. Winthrop," he asked earnestly, "may I speak to you quite openly
and honestly?"

"David Dunne, you couldn't speak any other way," she asserted, with a
gay little laugh.

"I love Carey!"

CHAPTER VII

This information seemingly conveyed no startling intelligence.

"Well," replied Mrs. Winthrop, evidently awaiting a further
statement.

"I haven't tried to win her love, nor have I told her that I love her,
because I knew that in your plans for her future you had never
included me. I know what you think about family, and I don't want to
make ill return for the courtesy and kindness you and Mr. Winthrop
have always shown me."

"David, you have one rare trait--gratitude. I did have plans for
Carey--plans built on the