Smith."

And she talked business. She stated plainly what she expected to do
for her boarder, and what she expected her boarder would do for her.
She enlarged upon the advantages and minimized the discomforts, with
the aid of a word now and then from the eager and interested Benny.

Mr. Smith, on his part, had little to say. That that little was most
satisfactory, however, was very evident; for Mrs. Blaisdell was soon
quite glowing with pride and pleasure, Mr. Smith was not glowing. He
was plainly ill at ease, and, at times, slightly abstracted. His eyes
frequently sought the door which Mrs. Blaisdell had closed so firmly a
short time before. They were still turned in that direction when
suddenly the door opened and a young girl appeared.

She was a slim little girl with long-lashed, starlike eyes and a wild-
rose flush in her cheeks. Beneath her trim hat her light brown hair
waved softly over her ears, glinting into gold where the light struck
it. She looked excited and pleased, yet not quite happy. She wore a
blue dress, plainly made.

"Don't stay late. Be in before ten, dear," cautioned Mrs. Blaisdell.
"And Mellicent, just a minute, dear. This is Mr. Smith. You might as
well meet him now. He's coming here to live--to board, you know. My
daughter, Mr. Smith."

Mr. Smith, already on his feet, bowed and murmured a conventional
something. From the starlike eyes he received a fleeting glance that
made him suddenly conscious of his fifty years and the bald spot on
the top of his head. Then the girl was gone, and her mother was