ow Arline had come to mail it to her was a matter for speculation.

But she had only set eyes on the beginning of a drama as she was soon
destined to learn. Late the next afternoon, while seated on the front
veranda with her mother, she viewed with mingled emotions a taxicab
which had come to a full stop before the house. Out of it stepped a
small, golden-haired young woman whose smart pongee traveling coat and
bulging leather bag proclaimed that she had come from afar.

"Arline Thayer!" cried Grace, running down the steps to meet the
newcomer as she passed through the gateway. "Why, Daffydowndilly! This
_is_ a surprise! You are the last person I had dreamed of seeing." Grace
caught the dainty little girl in a warm embrace.

"I know I should have telegraphed you," apologized Arline, "but--well--I
didn't. I made up my mind all in an instant to come to you, and here I
am. Ever since I received your letter you've been constantly in my
thoughts. I replied at once. Of course you received it?"

"Let me take your luggage, Daffydowndilly." Grace evaded Arline's
implied interrogation for the moment. "Come and pay your respects to
Mother, then we'll go upstairs to your room and you can rest a little
before dinner. You must be very tired after your long ride. Then, too,
we can exchange confidences. I have something to say to you about the
letter you just mentioned." Grace could not refrain from smiling a
little. She suspected that Arline had made a mistake, the precise result
of which was yet to be revealed.

"What is the matter, Grace?" was Arline's quick question. She had
instantly detected the unusual in her friend's enigmatic smile and
evasive speech.

Their progress to the veranda, where Mrs. Harlowe waited to greet the
unexpected but heartily-welcome arrival, prevented Grace's reply. It was
not until Arline had been ushered into one of the large, airy upper
chambers which Grace took so much pleasure in reserving for the use of
her frequent guests, that the former again repeated her question in
tones of deepening anxiety.

"I will tell you when you have made yourself comfortable," stipulated
Grace. Assisting Arline in removing her hat and coat, she applied
herself assiduously to the comfort of her friend.

"You are a truly ideal hostess, Grace," was Arline's tribute as she
finally settled herself in a deep willow chair. "Now I am ready to hear
what you have been keeping from me."

"You asked me if I had received you