s was not enthusiastic.

"Anne wouldn't do at all," he declared. "She'd be talking about the
kids before she knew it, and patting me on the head." He said it
complacently; Anne flirts, but they are really devoted.

"One of the Mercer girls?" I suggested, but Jimmy raised a horrified
hand.

"You don't know Aunt Selina," he protested. "I couldn't offer Leila in
the gown she's got on, unless she wore a shawl, and Betty is too fair."

Anne came in just then, and the whole story had to be told again to her.
She was ecstatic. She said it was good enough for a play, and that of
course she would be Mrs. Jimmy for that length of time.

"You know," she finished, "if it were not for Dal, I would be Mrs. Jimmy
for ANY length of time. I have been devoted to you for years, Billiken."

But Dallas refused peremptorily.

"I'm not jealous," he explained, straightening and throwing out his
chest, "but--well, you don't look the part, Anne. You're--you are
growing matronly, not but what you suit ME all right. And then I'd
forget and call you 'mammy,' which would require explanation. I think
it's up to you, Kit."

"I shall do nothing of the sort!" I snapped. "It's ridiculous!"

"I dare you!" said Dallas.

I refused. I stood like a rock while the storm surged around me and beat
over me. I must say for Jim that he was merely pathetic. He said that my
happiness was first; that he would not give me an uncomfortable minute
for anything on earth; and that Bella had been perfectly right to
leave him, because he was a sinking ship, and deserved to be turned out
penniless into the world. After which mixed figure, he poured himself
something to drink, and his hands were shaking.

Dal and Anne stood on each side of him and patted him on the shoulders
and glared across at me. I felt that if I was a rock, Jim's ship had
struck on me and was sinking, as he said, because of me. I began to
crumble.

"What--what time does she leave?" I asked, wavering.

"Ten: nine; KIT, are you going to do it?"

"No!" I gave a last clutch at my resolution. "People who do that kind
of thing always get into trouble. She might miss her train. She's almost
certain to miss her train."

"You're temporizing," Dallas said sternly. "We won't let her miss her
train; you can be sure of that."

"Jim," Anne broke in suddenly, "hasn't she a picture of Bella? There's
not the faintest resemblance between Bella and Kit."

Jim became downcast again. "I sent her a miniatur