Another listening silence, then:--

"You know the reason I feel the worst, don't you?"

"Why yes, you do. What we were talking about yesterday." The child sighed.
"Well, isn't it a comfort about eternity?"

"Yes, indeed, and I guess I'll kiss the 'phone now, grandpa. Can you hear
me?"

"Well, you do it, too, then. Yes--yes--I hear it; and you'll come home
early because you know--our secret?"

"What? A lot of men waiting for you? All right. You know I love you just
the same, even if I _did_ sleep, don't you?"

"Good-by, then, good-by."

She hung up the receiver and turned a beaming face upon her dumbfounded
parents.

"Now I'll have breakfast," she said cheerfully. "I'll only eat a little
because we must go out and see Star. You waited for me, didn't you?"
pausing in sudden apprehension.

"Yes, indeed," replied Harry, collecting himself. "We haven't been off the
piazza."

"Goody. I'm so glad. I'll hurry."

Mrs. Forbes followed the child as she bounded away, and the father and
mother sank upon an old settle of Flemish oak, gazing at one another. The
veil having been completely lifted from their eyes, each was viewing recent
circumstances in a new light.

At last Harry began to laugh in repressed fashion. "Sold, and the money
taken!" he ejaculated, softly smiting his knee.

His wife smiled, too, but there was a mist in her eyes.

"I smell a large mouse, Julia. How is it with you?"

"You mean my invitation?"

"I mean that we come under the head of those things that can't be cured and
must be endured."

She nodded. "And that's why he wants to take me to the seashore."

"Yes, but all the same he's got to do it to carry his point. You get the
fun just the same." The moisture that rose to Harry's eyes was forced there
by the effort to repress his mirth. "By jinks, the governor kissing the
'phone! I'll never get over that, never," and he exploded again.

His wife laid her hand on his arm. "Oh, Harry, can't you see how touching
it is?"

"I'll sue him for alienating my daughter's affections. See if I don't. Why,
we're not in it at all. Did you feel our insignificance when she found he'd
gone? We've been blockheads, Julia, blockheads."

"We're certainly figureheads," she returned, rather ruefully. "I don't
like to feel that your father has to pay such a price for the sake of
keeping Jewel a little longer."

"'T won't hurt him a bit. It's a good joke on him. If he doesn't go ahead
and take you now, I'l