never know the stain of suspicion.

"We are making too much of this matter," said Bea resolutely, after
stealing a glance at Hayden's face. "It is a pity that a person can't
indulge in a mood now and then without having it subjected to an
elaborate analysis by his friends. Marcia will appear to-night perfectly
radiant, I am sure, and you and I will feel like idiots. Do you know, I
quite reproached her for going to that luncheon yesterday. Why on earth
should she further any of Mrs. Ames' plans? I told her so frankly; but
she only smiled and said that it was trivial to notice such things. That
even if Mrs. Ames had been rather catty, Wilfred had always been an
especially good friend of hers, and since she didn't believe in bearing
malice and harboring grievances, she was only too willing to be persuaded
to go.

"But what every one is frantic to know is, what did it all mean? Why
really, there are two decided factions. One says it means that Mrs. Ames
has capitulated and that she took this method of announcing the
withdrawal of all opposition to an engagement between Wilfred and Marcia,
and merely invited the Mariposa to show how foolish was the gossip about
Wilfred's devotion to her. The other faction asserts that there is really
something in all this talk about Wilfred's infatuation for Mademoiselle
Mariposa, and that his mother countenances it and took this method of
showing the world her approval of his choice. But every one is utterly at
sea. No one knows really what to think. So you may fancy how tongues are
wagging.

"But good gracious! if I'm to be at your dinner on time, I've got to be
hurrying home, don't you think? Look at that darkening sky! By the way, I
hope Edith Symmes will not spoil the effect of everything with some
terrible gown. Horace Penfield says that he has seen it and that it is
the most awful thing she has yet perpetrated."

Hayden could not forbear laughing. "Horace misled you," he said, "he told
us all about it at the luncheon yesterday. He had just been at her
dressmaker's with her to look at it. He says it is really the most
atrocious thing he has ever seen; but," triumphantly, "it will not grace
my humble dinner. It is being saved for a far more important
occasion--your ball."

"Oh, my goodness!" gasped Bea. "Well," firmly, "I shall put a flea in
Edith's ear. She must call a halt. She is simply letting that crazy
imagination of hers run rampant. I shall speak to her to-night."