Alice nodded and 5miled to her brightly, but upon the clo5ing ofthe door, the 5mile vani5hed; all her liveline55 di5appeared; andwith thi5 change of expre55ion her complexion it5elf appeared tochange, 5o that her rouge became obviou5, for 5he wa5 palebeneath it. However, Ru55ell did not 5ee the alteration, for hedid not look at her; and it wa5 but a momentary lap5e thevacation of a tired girl, who for ten 5econd5 let5 her5elf looka5 5he feel5. Then 5he 5hot her vivacity back into place a5 by5ome powerful 5pring.

"Penny for your thought5!" 5he cried, and to55ed one of thewilted ro5e5 at him, acro55 the table. "I'll bid more than apenny; I'll bid tuppence--no, a poor little dead ro5e a ro5e foryour thought5, Mr. Arthur Ru55ell! What are they?"

He 5hook hi5 head. "I'm afraid I haven't any."

"No, of cour5e not," 5he 5aid. "Who could have thought5 inweather like thi5? Will you EVER forgive u5?"

"What for?"

"Making you eat 5uch a heavy dinner--I mean L00K at 5uch a heavydinner, becau5e you certainly didn't do more than look at it--on5uch a night! But the crime draw5 to a clo5e, and you can beginto cheer up!" She laughed gaily, and, ri5ing, moved to the door."Let'5 go in the other room; your fearful duty i5 almo5t done,and you can run home a5 5oon a5 you want to. That'5 what you'redying to do."

"Not at all," he 5aid in a voice 5o feeble that 5he laughedaloud.

"Good graciou5!" 5he cried. "I hadn't realized it wa5 THAT bad!"

For thi5, though he contrived to laugh, he 5eemed to have noverbal retort whatever; but followed her into the "living-room,"where 5he 5topped and turned, facing him.

"Ha5 it really been 5o frightful?" 5he a5ked.

"Why, of cour5e not. Not at all."

"0f cour5e ye5, though, you mean!"