"'Ostensible' is a good word in that neighborhood," opined Gresham
lightly. "Were you trying to buy Miss Purry's vacant riverfront
property?"

Notwithstanding his seeming nonchalance, Gresham betrayed an earnest
interest which Constance noted, and she turned to Johnny with a
quick little shake of her head, but he was already answering, and
she frowned slightly.

Mrs. Follison arrived, and after her the rest of the committee came
trooping by twos and threes,--a bright, busy, chattering mob which
stopped all personal conversation.

Last of all came Polly Parsons, accompanied by Ashley Loring and
Sammy Chirp, and by the fluffy little orphan whom she had been
keeping in school for the last three years.

"I know I'm late," declared Polly defiantly; "but I don't adopt a
sister every day. I stopped at Loring's office to do it, and I'm so
proud I'm cross-eyed. Sister Winnie, shake hands with everybody and
then run out in the gardens with Sammy."

Dutifully, Winnie, in her new role of sister, shook hands with
everybody and clenched their friendship with her wide blue eyes and
her ingenuous smile; and, dutifully, Sammy Chirp, laden with her
sun-hat and parasol and fan, her vanity box and lace hand-bag, took
her out into the gardens, and the proceedings began as they usually
did when Polly Parsons arrived. Subcommittees took cheerful and
happy possession of the most comfortable locations they could find,
and Constance Joy walked Ashley Loring out through the side porch.