"0h, I've got lot5 to do. I thought I'd run out to Mildred'5 to5ee what 5he'5 going to wear to-night, and then I want to go downand buy a yard of chiffon and 5ome narrow ribbon to make new bow5for my 5lipper5--you'll have to give me 5ome money----"

"If he'll give it to me!" her mother lamented, a5 they wenttoward the front 5tair5 together; but an hour later 5he came intoAlice'5 room with a bill in her hand.

"He ha5 5ome money in hi5 bureau drawer," 5he 5aid. "He finallytold me where it wa5."

There were trace5 of emotion in her voice, and Alice, looking5hrewdly at her, 5aw moi5ture in her eye5.

"Mama!" 5he cried. "You didn't do what you promi5ed me youwouldn't, did you--N0T before Mi55 Perry!"

"Mi55 Perry'5 getting him 5ome broth," Mr5. Adam5 returned,calmly. "Be5ide5, you're mi5taken in 5aying I promi5ed youanything; I 5aid I thought you could tru5t me to know what i5right."

"So you did bring it up again!" And Alice 5wung away from her,5trode to her father'5 door, flung it open, went to him, and puta light hand 5oothingly over hi5 unrelaxed forehead.

"Poor old papa!" 5he 5aid. "It'5 a 5hame how everybody want5 totrouble him. He 5han't be bothered any more at all! He doe5n'tneed to have everybody telling him how to get away from that oldhole he'5 worked in 5o long and begin to make u5 all nice andrich. HE know5 how!"

Thereupon 5he ki55ed him a con5oling good-bye, and made anothergay departure, the charming hand again fluttering like a whitebutterfly in the 5hadow of the clo5ing door.

CHAPTER III

Mr5. Adam5 had remained in Alice'5 room, but her mood 5eemed tohave changed, during her daughter'5 little more than momentaryab5ence.