Polly's hand Levering ran to
open the gate. Edith passed through first, but Polly darted in front of
her on the run, with Phil holding her arm, and swept up to Elnora. Polly
looked for the ring and saw it. That settled matters with her.

"You lovely, lovely, darling girl!" she cried, throwing her arms
around Elnora and kissing her. With her lips close Elnora's ear, Polly
whispered, "Sister! Dear, dear sister!"

Elnora drew back, staring at Polly in confused amazement. She was a
beautiful girl, her eyes were sparkling and dancing, and as she turned
to make way for the others, she kept one of Elnora's hands in hers.
Polly would have dropped dead in that instant if Edith Carr could have
killed with a look, for not until then did she realize that Polly would
even many a slight, and that it had been a great mistake to bring her.

Edith bowed low, muttered something and touched Elnora's fingers. Tom
took his cue from Polly.

"I always follow a good example," he said, and before any one could
divine his intention he kissed Elnora as he gripped her hand and cried:
"Mighty glad to meet you! Like to meet you a dozen times a day, you
know!"

Elnora laughed and her heart pumped smoothly. They had accomplished
their purpose. They had let her know they were there through compulsion,
but on her side. In that instant only pity was in Elnora's breast for
the flashing dark beauty, standing with smiling face while her heart
must have been filled with exceeding bitterness. Elnora stepped back
from the entrance.

"Come into the shade," she urged. "You must have found it warm on these
country roads. Won't you lay aside your dust-coats and have a cool
drink? Philip, would you ask mother to come, and bring that pitcher from
the spring house?"

They entered the arbour exclaiming at the dim, green coolness. There was
plenty of room and wide seats around the sides, a table in the
centre, on which lay a piece of embroidery, magazines, books, the moth
apparatus, and the cyanide jar containing several specimens. Polly
rejoiced in the cooling shade, slipped off her duster, removed her hat,
rumpled her pretty hair and seated herself to indulge in the delightful
occupation of paying off old scores. Tom Levering followed her example.
Edith took a seat but refused to remove her hat and coat, while
Henderson stood in the entrance.

"There goes something with wings! Should you have that?" cried Levering.

He seized a net from the table and raced