"A boy in Ward's position may do much worse than marry a lovely
and sensible woman," Mrs. Putnam said. "Well, it just occurred to
me. It is your affair, of course. But looking back one sees how
much just the--well, the lack of a tiny push has meant in one's
life!"

"And this is the push?" Harriet said, her heart full of the
confusion and happiness that this unusual mood of confidence and
affection on Mary Putnam's part had brought her.

"Perhaps!" The smooth, cool hand touched hers for a second before
Mrs. Putnam went upon her gracious way. Harriet hardly heard the
bustle and confusion about her for a few minutes. She sat musing,
with her splendid eyes fixed upon some point invisible to the
joyous group about her.

To Nina, meanwhile, had come the most extraordinary hour of her
life. It had begun with the familiar and puzzling humiliations,
but where it was to end the fluttered heart of the seventeen-year-
old hardly dared to think.

She had sauntered to a green bench, under great maples, with
Lettice Graham and Harry Troutt and Anna Poett. And Joshua
Brevoort had come for Anna, and they had sauntered away, with that
mysterious ease with which other girls seemed to manage young men.
And then Harry and Lettice had in some manner communicated with
each other, for Lettice had jumped up suddenly, saying, "Nina,
will you excuse us? We'll be back directly," and they had wandered
off in the direction of the river, giggling as they went. Nina had
smiled gallantly in farewell, but her feelings were deeply hurt.