extra guard mount and things for punishment. But that's part of the
game, and no fellow minds if he's giving buttons to somebody he
likes."

Missy wasn't exactly sure she knew what "subtle" meant, but she felt
that Jim was being subtle. Oh, the romance of it! To give her a
brass button he was willing to suffer punishment. He was like a
knight of old!

As Jim was severing the button with his penknife, Missy, chancing to
glance upward, noted that the curtain of an upstairs window was
being held back by an invisible hand. That was her mother's window.

"I must go in now," she said hurriedly. "Mother's waiting up for
me."

"Well I guess I'll see you soon. You're up at Kitty's a lot, aren't
you?"

"Yes," she murmured, one eye on the upstairs window. So many things
she had to say now. A little while ago she hadn't been able to talk.
Now, for no apparent reason, there was much to say, yet no time to
say it. How queer Life was!

"To-morrow, I expect," she hurried on. "Good night, Mr. Henley."
"Good night--Missy." With his daring, gleaming smile.

Inside the hall door, mother, wrapper-clad, met her disapprovingly.
"Missy, where in the world did you get all those flowers?"