I know it! I hadn't quite believed it, but I knew it was true
when he got so red. He looked--oh, for a second or so he
looked--stricken! He thought I didn't notice it. Mama, he's
been to see her almost every evening lately. They take long walks
together. That's why he hasn't been here."

Of Mrs. Palmer's laughter there was left only her indulgent
smile, which she had not allowed to vanish. "Well, what of it?"
she said.

"Mama!"

"Yes," said Mrs. Palmer. "What of it?"

"But don't you see?" Mildred's well-tutored voice, though
modulated and repressed even in her present emotion, nevertheless
had a tendency to quaver. "It's true. Frank Dowling was going
to see her one evening and he saw Arthur sitting on the stoop
with her, and didn't go in. And Ella used to go to school with a
girl who lives across the street from here. She told Ella----"

"Oh, I understand," Mrs. Palmer interrupted. "Suppose he does
go there. My dear, I said, 'What of it?'"

"I don't see what you mean, mama. I'm so afraid he might think
we knew about it, and that you and papa said those things about
her and her father on that account--as if we abused them because
he goes there instead of coming here."

"Nonsense!" Mrs. Palmer rose, went to a window, and, turning