rate white satin heart, a combination sachet and
valentine, and again had to be diverted. At length his selection was
made,--a gilt and lace affair with a border of roses and the touching
motto, "To my own true love."

On their way home they stopped in a large jewelry store where Norah
had left her watch to be repaired, and while she waited she saw
Wayland Leigh bending in an absorbed manner over a collection of
fans,--delicate mother-of-pearl and lace trifles, as frail as they
were pretty. What business had he with such expensive things? she
wondered. It was quickly forgotten, however, in the difficulties
involved in making headway past the show windows, James Mandeville
wishing to exhaust the beauties of each one before moving on.

[Illustration: JAMES MANDEVILLE'S TASTE WAS EXACTING.]

The afternoon was nearly over when, after leaving her companion at his
home, she entered the shop, where Marion was busy folding and putting
away. Norah stood before the table, pulling off her gloves.
Suddenly she stooped and picked up an envelope from the floor. "Did
you get a letter from Dr. Baird?" she asked, as she read the address.

Marion's face flushed oddly. "No," she said, "it was just an
enclosure."

"A valentine?" cried Norah; but Marion went on with her folding, and
did not reply.

Norah walked to the window and looked out through the screen of plants
at the Terrace and the faint rosy glow that lingered in the southwest.
She guessed what it was her friend had received, and for a moment she
was not quite happy. Then she asked herself inwardly, but sternly,
"Are you a selfish beast, Norah Pennington?"

Presently Marlon came behind her and put an arm around her. "You don't
mind my not showing it to you, Norah. It was only a--"

Norah turned, and with a sudden motion stopped the word on her lips.
"Child, what is friendship worth if one minds things--like that? I
invited Miss Martin," she added.

Louise Martin was a fair, fresh-looking girl, who had come from a
country town several years before, and after a course in a business
college had found a position as stenographer in a real estate office.
Her gentle, refined manners had attracted Norah, who, persisting in
the effort to make friends with her, had at length broken through the
distant reserve with which she met all advances. The girl hesitated
over the invitation, saying she did not often go anywhere; but Norah's
friendly manner won the day, and promptly at half