``I beg your pardon, but is not this--Miss
Neilson?''

Billy drew back with just a touch of hauteur.

``Y-yes,'' she murmured.

``I thought so--yet I was expecting to see
you with Aunt Hannah. I am M. J. Arkwright,
Miss Neilson.''

For a brief instant Billy stared dazedly.

``You don't mean--Mary Jane?'' she gasped.

``I'm afraid I do.'' His lips twitched.

``But I thought--we were expecting--''
She stopped helplessly. For one more brief
instant she stared; then, suddenly, a swift
change came to her face. Her eyes danced.

``Oh--oh!'' she chuckled. ``How perfectly
funny! You _have_ evened things up, after
all. To think that Mary Jane should be a--''
She paused and flashed almost angrily suspicious
eyes into his face. ``But mine _was_ `Billy,' ''
she cried. ``Your name isn't really--Mary
Jane'?''