. No,
indeed, I wouldn't, Julia. Yes, you can clear the table, I think; we've
all finished."

She led her sons down to the fascinating realm of dogs and horses,
vaguely uneasy, yet unwilling to admit her fears. An endless warm half
hour crept by. Then, glancing toward the house, she saw Sidney and Jean
deep in conversation on the porch, and a moment later Sidney came to
find her.

The boy was obstinate, he told her briefly--adding, with a look in his
kind eyes that was quite new to her, that Peter had met his match, and
would realize it sooner or later. Mary protested against there being
any further talk of the circus that day, but Sidney would not refuse
the disappointed eyes of the small Moores. In the end, the doctor's
family went off alone in the motor-car.

"Don't worry, Mary," said Sidney, kindly, as he tucked her in
comfortably. "Peter's had nothing but women and servants so far. Now
he's got to learn to obey!"

"But such a baby, Sidney!" she reminded him.

"He's older than I was, Mary, when my poor father and Uncle Larry--"

"Yes--yes, I know!" she assented hurriedly. "Good-by!"

"Good-by!" repeated a hardy little voice from an upper window. Mary
looked up to see Peter, composed and smiling, looking down from the
nursery sill.

All the next day, and the next, Mary Moore's thoughts were at the Hall.
She told her husband all about it on the afternoon of the second day,
for no word or sign had come from Jean, and real anxiety began to haunt
her. She and the doctor were roaming about their pretty, shabby garden,
Mrs. Moore's little hand, where she loved to have it, in the crook of
his big arm. The doctor, stopping occasionally to shake a rose post
with his free hand, or to break a dead blossom from its stalk, scowled
through the recital, even while contentedly enjoying his wife, his
garden, and his pipe.

Before he could make a definite comment, they were interrupted by
Sidney himself, who brought his big riding horse up close to the fence
and waved his whip with a shout of greeting. The doctor went to meet
him, Mary, a little pale, following.

"Good day to you!" said Sidney Carolan, baring his head without a
smile. "I'm bound to Barville; my editor is there for a few days, and I
may have to dine with him. I stopped to ask if Mary would run in and
see Jean this afternoon. She's feeling a little down."

"Of course I will!" said Mary, heartily.

There was a pause.

"Mary's told you that we're having