you," said Linda, closing her fist over it and holding it up for
inspection. "I'll see that it doesn't escape. And this minute I thank
you for the candy, which I know is delicious, and for my very first
sheaf of roses from any man. See what I have done with one of them?"

She turned fully around that he might catch the effect of the rose,
and in getting that he also got the full effect of the costume, and the
possibilities of the girl before him. And then she gave him a shock.

"Isn't it a lovely frock?" she said. "Another birthday gift from the
Strong rock of ages. I have been making a collection of rocks for my
fern bed, and I have got another collection that is not visible to
anyone save myself. Katy's a rock, and you're a rock, and Donald is a
rock, and Marian's a rock, and I am resting securely on all of you. I
wish my father knew that in addition to Marian and Katy I have found two
more such wonderful friends."

"And what about Henry Anderson?" inquired Peter. "Aren't you going to
include him?"

Linda walked over to the chair in which she intended to seat herself.

"Peter," she said, "I wish you hadn't asked me that."

Peter's figure tensed suddenly.

"Look here, Linda," he said sternly, "has that rather bold youngster
made himself in any way offensive to you?"

"Not in any way that I am not perfectly capable of handling myself,"
said Linda. She looked at Peter confidently.

"Do you suppose," she said, "that I can sit down in this thing without
ruining it? Shouldn't I really stand up while I am wearing it?"

Peter laughed unrestrainedly.

"Linda, you're simply delicious," he said. "It seems to me that I have
seen young ladies in like case reach round and gather the sash to one
side and smooth out the skirt as they sit."

"Thank you, Peter, of course that would be the way," said Linda. "This
being my first, I'm lacking in experience."

And thereupon she sat according to direction; while Peter sat opposite
her.

"Now finish. Just one word more about Henry Anderson," he said. "Are you
perfectly sure there is nothing I need do for you in that connection?"

"Oh, perfectly," said Linda lightly. "I didn't mean to alarm you. He
merely carried that bug-catcher nonsense a trifle too far. I wouldn't
have minded humoring him and fooling about it a little. But, Peter, do
you know him quite well? Are you very sure of him?"

"No," said Peter, "I don't know him well at all. The only thing I am
sure about him i