The Candy Man, striding on through the night, felt an unreasoning joy as
he thought of Margaret Elizabeth telling the story with the firelight on
her face. The world seemed throbbing with expectancy. Who could tell
what splendid event awaited its near fulfilment?




CHAPTER ELEVEN

_In which a radical change of atmosphere is at once noticed; which
shows how Miss Bentley repents of a too coming-on disposition, and lends
an ear to the advantages of wealth._


The Christmas fire was not cold upon the hearth of the Little Red
Chimney before Miss Bentley was whisked away to other scenes, into an
atmosphere so different that of necessity things took on another aspect.

Mrs. Gerrard Pennington found intense satisfaction in her niece's social
success. Given every advantage, she pointed out, one could never tell
how a girl would take, and Dick had brought up his daughter in such an
odd way. Yet in spite of everything, even this awkward arrangement of
living in two places, Margaret Elizabeth was popular beyond her fondest
hopes.

There were not wanting those who remarked that it would be a marvel if
she were not spoiled. Probably they were right, and Margaret Elizabeth,
at the flood tide of her social career, courted, fêted, the kingdoms of