absence from his exhibition in the afternoon.

"But I was there," said Edith. "You did not see me, but I
was there. Mother had a headache, and I went by myself."

"You were there!" exclaimed Loring, almost starting from his
chair. "I don't understand. You were not in your seat."

"No," answered Edith. "I was on the very back row of seats.
You could not see me, and I did not wish you to see me."

"Edith!" exclaimed Loring, rising to his feet and leaning
over the library table, which was between them. "When did you
come? How much of the performance did you see?"

"I was late," she said. "I did not arrive until after the
fireworks, or whatever they were."

For a moment Loring was silent, as if he did not understand
the situation.

"Fireworks!" he said. "How did you know there had been
fireworks?"

"I heard the people talking of them as they left the
theatre," she answered.

"And what did they say?" he inquired quickly.

"They seemed to like them very well," she replied, "but I do