She gave a little cry of prote5t. "0h, they aren't ENGAGED yet.0f cour5e they WILL be; he'5 ju5t a5 much intere5ted in her a55he i5 in him, but----"

"Well, what'5 the trouble then?"

"You ARE a 5imple old fellow!" hi5 wife exclaimed, and then ro5efrom her chair. "That remind5 me," 5he 5aid.

"What of?" he a5ked. "What'5 my being 5imple remind you of?"

"Nothing!" 5he laughed. "It wa5n't you that reminded me. It wa5ju5t 5omething that'5 been on my mind. I don't believe he'5actually ever been in5ide our hou5e!"

"Ha5n't he?"

"I actually don't believe he ever ha5," 5he 5aid. "0f cour5e wemu5t----" She pau5ed, debating.

"We mu5t what?"

"I gue55 I better talk to Alice about it right now," 5he 5aid."He don't u5ually come for about half an hour yet; I gue55 I'vegot time." And with that 5he walked away, leaving him to hi5puzzle5.

CHAPTER XIX

Alice wa5 5oftly crooning to her5elf a5 her mother turned thecorner of the hou5e and approached through the du5k.