A hush fell upon them as they followed her out upon the veranda. Sentences left unfinished, gay laughter checked on the lips, paid tribute to the impressive beauty of the scene. Far away in the east the moon, with slow and stately grace, lifted its splendor above the dark line of the horizon. Against its flaming glory were sharply defined the somber trunks of sturdy oaks and spreading elms. Seen between their leafy branches lay the Sound, obscured a moment since by an impenetrable veil of darkness, but reflecting now on its rippling surface the golden light of the rising orb. The night air pulsed with the cheery chirp of the cricket, the monotonous chant of the katy-did. Softly the south wind blew rustling among the trees and shrubs. Nathalie was the first to speak. Her quick ear had caught the sound of wheels. "Here comes the stage at last. Do let us get off right away." "Is everyone here?" queried Mrs. Andrews, looking around on the bevy of pretty girls with a smile of complacent satisfaction. "Everyone but Lillian," Helen answered. "We may as well begin to take our places. She will be down in a few moments." Already the stage had backed up before the door, and Jean was among the first to run lightly down the broad flight of steps. Farr stood at the foot, and as he held out his hand to assist her, she saw that he was regarding her sadly. There was no time for words, the others were flocking down the steps behind them. She turned her eyes to meet his with a plaintive, almost appealing smile. She thought they must have spoken for her, for ere he released her hand he gave it a quick pressure. It was some few moments before Miss Stuart made her appearance. She descended the steps slowly, with no suggestion of haste. Farr held open the door for her to enter. "Come up here by me, Lillian," Helen called to her from the other end of the stage, but she did not seem to hear the request, and slipped into a seat near the door. Farr sprang lightly in, but as he would have passed her she laid a detaining hand on his arm. "There is plenty of room here," she said, indicating the place beside her, and he had no alternative but to take it. The other men crowded past them, and as the stage lurched forward, Cliff Archer dropped into a seat between Jean and Eleanor. "A great deal of strength is wasted in undue haste," he observed lazily. "I find that laggards invariably prosper." "What heresy, Cliff," laughed Eleanor softly, with an expressive glance in Miss Stuart's direction. Cliff appealed to Jean. "Can you imagine anything more barefaced than that attempt to extort a compliment. From a sheer sense of duty I feel compelled to disappoint her."