too complicated to write. We've engaged rooms at the Hotel du
Lac--I hope it's decent; it's the only place starred in Baedeker.

'Aunt Kate wishes to be remembered to your father and Miss Hazel.

'Yours ever,
'NAN HILLIARD.

'P.S.--I'm awfully sorry not to bring Jerry; I know you'd adore
him.'

She returned the letter to its envelope and looked up.

'Now isn't that abominable?' she demanded.

'Abominable!' Miss Hazel was scandalized. 'My dear, I think it's
delightful.'

'Oh, yes--I mean about Jerry Junior; I've been trying for six years to
get hold of that man.'

Tony behind them made a sudden movement that let out nearly a yard of
rope, and the _Farfalla_ listed heavily to starboard.

'Tony!' Constance threw over her shoulder. 'Don't you know enough to sit
still when you are holding the sheet?'

'_Scusi_,' he murmured. The sulky look had vanished from his face; he
wore an expression of alert attention.

'Of course we shall have them at the villa,' said Miss Hazel. 'And we
shall have to get some new dishes. Elizabetta has already broken so many
plates that she has to stop and wash them between courses.'

Constance looked dreamily across the lake; she appeared to be thinking.
'I wonder,' she inquired finally, 'if Jerry Junior knew we were here in
Valedolmo?'

Her father emerged from the columns of his paper.

'Of course he knew it, and having heard what a dangerous young person you
were, he said to himself, "I'd better keep out."'

'I wish I knew. It would make the score against him considerably
heavier.'

'So there is already a score? I hadn't supposed that the game had begun.'

She nodded.

'Six years ago--but he doesn't know it. Yes, Dad,' her tone was
melodramatic, 'for six years I've been waiting for Jerry Junior and
planning my revenge. And now, when I have him almost in my grasp, he
eludes me again!'

'Dear me!' Mr. Wilder ejaculated. 'What did the young man do?'

Had Constance turned she would have found Tony's face an interesting
study. But she knew well enough without looking at him that he was
listening to the conversation, and she determined to give him something
to listen to. It was a salutary thing for Tony to be kept in mind of the
fact that there were other men in the world.

She sighed.

'He was the first man I ever loved, father, and he spurned me. Do you
rememb