tantalising smile she shot after him as he moved away, defeated.

If he was glaring luridly at the irrepressible Freddie, he was not alone
in his gloom. Katherine Rodney, green with jealousy, was sending
spiteful glances after her dearest friend, while Mrs. Rodney was
sniffing the air as if it was laden with frost.

"Don't you think Connie is a perfect dear? I'm so fond of her," said
Miss Rodney, so sweetly that he should have detected the nether-flow.

He started and pulled himself together. "Aw, yes,--ripping!" He
consciously adjusted his eyeglass for a hasty glance about in search of
the easily disturbed Mr. Rodney. Then, to Mrs. Rodney, his mind a blank
after a passing glimpse of Constance and her escort: "Aw--er--a
perfectly jolly opera, isn't it?"




CHAPTER IV

THE WOULD-BE BROTHER-IN-LAW


The next morning, bright and early, Mr. Alfred Rodney, a telegram in his
hand, charged down the hall to Mrs. Medcroft's door. With characteristic
Far West impulsiveness he banged on the door. A sleepy voice asked who
was there.

"It's me--Rodney. Get up. I want to see Medcroft. Say, Roxbury, wake