of the question, she could not hope to make her meaning clear.

"What surprises me," her aunt went on, "is that you should have met
Augustus in a public park. It is very unlike him. I wonder what he
thought of you?"

This brought out Miss Bentley's dimples, as she owned he had seemed not
displeased to meet her. "I explained that I was waiting for Dr. Prue,
who had gone in to see one of the superintendent's children." She
further assured her aunt that River Bend Park was a delightful place in
which to enjoy nature, on Sunday morning or any other time.

"I confess I do not choose a public park when I wish to enjoy
nature--except for driving, of course. Perhaps," added Mrs. Pennington,
"that is what you call over-refined."

Margaret Elizabeth considered this thoughtfully. "Perhaps it is," she
said. "Not being able to enjoy things that are free to everybody."

But Margaret Elizabeth in that frivolously-becoming cap was an antidote
to her own remarks. Mrs. Pennington smiled indulgently. Richard's
daughter came honestly by some eccentricities, not to mention those
Vandegrifts, whose influence she greatly deplored.

"You will outgrow these socialistic ideas, my dear," she said. "But
I am still puzzled, the more I think of it, at your meeting Augustus on
Sunday morning. Was it two weeks ago? I am under the impression he left
for New York that very day."

"He didn't mention it, but there are afternoon trains," answered