"But although he is the dearest--"

"Sewall did!" Peter exclaimed, rather struck. "Great Scott! his
father is one of the richest men in San Francisco."

"I know it," Alix agreed. "And he is one of the nicest men," she
added. "But of course he'll never really love any one but Ursula.
And I felt--oh, I felt too tired and alone and depressed to enter
upon congratulations and clothes and family dinners with the
Sewalls," she ended, a little drearily. "I wanted--I wanted things
in the old way--as they were--" she said, her voice thickening.

"I know--I know!" Peter said, sympathetically. And for a while
there was silence in the little house, while the rain fell
steadily upon the dark forest without, and soaked branches swished
about eaves and windows. "Can you put me up to-night?" he asked,
suddenly. He liked her frank pleasure.

"Rather! I think Cherry's room was made up fresh last Monday," she
told him. "And to-morrow," she added, with a brightening face,
"we'll walk up to your house, and see what six months of Kow's
uninterrupted sway have done to it!"

"That's just what we'll do!" he agreed, enthusiastically. "And
we'll have some music--"

She had risen, as if for good-nights, and was now beside the old
square piano, where she had placed the lamp.

"I haven't touched it--since--" she said, sadly, sitting on the