"He says so," Rachael answered with a demure smile. "Then that
settles it!" Vivian laughed. But she and several of her intimates
fell into low conversation, and the older women were presently
interrupted by Vivian's voice again. "Rachael!" she challenged,
"Katrina says that SHE knows somebody Warren likes as well as he
does you!"

"I did not!" protested Katrina, scarlet-cheeked and giggling,
giving Vivian, who sat next her on the wide tiled steps, a violent
push.

"Oh, you did, too!" one of the group exclaimed.

Katrina murmured something unintelligible.

"Well, that's the same thing!" Vivian assured her promptly. "She
says now that Warren DID like her as well, Rachael!"

"Well, don't tell me who it is, and break my heart!" Rachael
warned them. But her old sense of humor so far failed her that she
could not help adding curiously, "If Warren ever cared for anybody
else, he'll tell me!"

There was a general burst of laughter, and Rachael colored.

"No, it's nobody," Katrina said hastily. "It's only idiocy!" She
and the other girls laughed in a suppressed fashion for some time.
Finally, to Rachael's secret relief, Gertrude Whittaker
energetically demanded the secret. More giggling ensued. Then
Katrina agreed that she would whisper it in Mrs. Whittaker's ear,