"Hear, hear!" came a masculine voice in applause, and they turned to find
Allen and Frank close behind them.

"Well, what will you have?" asked Mollie, eyeing them hostilely. "We
thought you were lost and gone forever like Clementine--"

"And were quite reconciled," finished Betty primly, her eyes twinkling.

"Oh, you did, did you?" cried Frank, regarding Mollie's haughtily tip-tilt
little nose with mingled fear and admiration. "Well, I'll have you know,
young lady, that you can't get rid of us as easily as all that. May I be
permitted to walk beside you, mam'selle?"

Mollie sighed and permitted the liberty with an air of great resignation.

In the meanwhile, Allen was whispering into Betty's almost reluctant
little ear.

"Did you really mean what you said about its being glorious to give
yourself for a great cause?" he asked softly.

"Why, I--g-guess so," she stammered, taken off her guard. "Why?"

"Oh, just because," he answered vaguely, watching the elusive little
dimple at the corner of her mouth, "I might want to remind you of it--some
day."