en, scurrying back to Mrs. Gosnold's room, she read in the
apprehensive eyes of the maid, even before this last could
speak, the news that the mistress was still missing, and so, darting
down-stairs, began industriously to search the house and grounds.

By this hour few signs were wanting that the festival was on its wane;
already cars were arriving and departing, laden with the very youngest
and the oldest people; there was perceptibly more room on the
dancing-floor of the veranda, which was populated chiefly by the
younger set; in the supper-room the more rowdy crowd hung on with
numbers undiminished and enthusiasm unabated if liberally dampened;
about the grounds there was far less movement, far more lingering in
sequestered nooks and shadows. Ecstatica, for one, had folded her
tent, liberated her black cat to the life of a convinced misogynist,
and vanished into the shades of night.

But nowhere was any sign to be found of anyone of those three whom
Sally sought--Mrs. Gosnold or Savage or, failing these, Mrs. Standish.

Now when she had nearly completed one exhaustive round of the grounds
and was wondering where next to turn, with neither warning nor
expectation she came around one end of a screen of shrubbery and
stopped just short of surprising another sentimental tableau, staged
in the identical setting used for Mr. Trego's declaration and cast
with a change of but one mummer.

And in the instant marked by recognition of that selfsame marble
seat commanding that same view of silvered sea and bathed in the light
of that same heartless moon, Sally seemed to hear the echo of her
destiny's sardonic laughter.

The gentleman was Mr. Trego, the lady Mrs. Artemas; and they were
ignorant of Sally's observation for the simple reason that Mr. Trego's
back was toward her and the head of Mrs. Artemas was pillowed on his
shoulder--her arms white bonds around his neck.

And as if this were not enough, Sally's discovery of them anticipated
by the barest moment the appearance of another couple around the
farther end of the clump of shrubbery--two people who happened to be
husband and wife and known to Sally as recent additions to the
house-party.

These, too, stopped sharply and would have considerately withdrawn but
for the fact that, standing as he did, Trego could not help seeing
them. He spoke a word, presumably, in the ear so near his lips. The
woman swung away in a twinkling, breaking from his arms but retaining
on