August, with the thermometer at the top of the tree, I don't
know."

"Go along in, old man, and see the ladies. Take out Pauline.
Mrs. Lessing isn't dancing. Make a sitting-out engagement
with the lovely widow, then bolt out here. That's my advice,"
urged Macauley.

"Much obliged, I will. Wouldn't have come if Winifred hadn't
cornered me."

"She's doing her duty by Pauline, and she considers her duty
isn't done till she's secured the men Pauline wants. But I
say - when you get a look at Ellen you'll forget the rivulets
coursing down your neck. It's the first time she's worn
anything not suggestive of past experiences. It's only white
tonight, but - " Macauley's pause was eloquent.

Burns pushed on into the house, through whose open doors and
windows came sounds of revelry. A stringed orchestra was
playing somewhere out of sight, and to its music the late
arrival, holding his head well up that he might keep his
collar intact until the latest possible moment, set his course
toward his hostess.

Outside, in the bower which had been made of the porch,
Chester, disgracefully shuffling off the duties of host and
lounging with Macauley and two or three other of the young
married men, reported through the flower-hung window the
progress of the victim led to the sacrifice.