with Miss Keith, Sam's sister? You bought some"--with a mischievous
twinkle--"some marshmallows, among other things. I sold them to you."

"You? Great Scott! Are you--why that girl's name was--what was it?"

"It was the same as mine, Mary Augusta Lathrop. But in South Harniss
they call me Mary-'Gusta."

"That was it! And you are Mary-'Gusta? Yes, of course you are! Well,
I ought to be ashamed, I suppose, but I didn't recognize you. I AM
ashamed. I was awfully obliged to you that day. You helped me out of a
scrape."

Sam, who had been listening with increasing curiosity, broke in.

"Say, what's all this?" he demanded. "When was this, Crawford? What
scrape? You never told me."

"And you didn't tell me that Miss Lathrop was here. You didn't say a
word about her."

"Eh? Didn't I? I must have forgotten to mention it. She--she IS here,
you know." Mrs. Wyeth shook her head.

"Samuel, you're perfectly idiotic today," she declared. "Of course she
is here; anyone with eyes can see she is. She is--ahem--visiting me
and she is attending the Misses Cabot's school. There! Now, Mr. Smith
understands, I hope. And dinner is ready. Don't any of you say another
word until we are at the table. My father used to say that lukewarm soup
was the worst sort of cold reception and I agree with him."