Perhaps Sybil pitied Ronald a little. He was very quiet in his manner, though after the first few minutes he found himself talking much as usual. True, he often looked at Joe, and then was silent; but then again he looked at Sybil, and his tongue was unloosed. He was grateful after a time, and he was also flattered. Besides, he could not help noticing that his new acquaintance was extremely beautiful. His conscience smote him as he realized that he was thinking of her appearance, and he immediately quieted the qualm by saying that it was but natural admiration for an artistic object. Ronald did not know much about artists and that sort of people, but the expression formed itself conveniently in his mind. The consequence was that he accepted an invitation to drive with the two girls after luncheon, and when they left him at his hotel, a proceeding against which he vehemently protested on the score of propriety, he reluctantly acknowledged to himself that he had enjoyed the afternoon very much. "Come and see us after five o'clock," said Sybil. "I will present you to Mrs. Wyndham. Nine hundred and thirty-six, Beacon Street," she added, laughing. "With great pleasure--thanks," said Ronald. "Good-by, Ronald dear," said Joe pleasantly. "Good-by," he answered in a doubtful tone of voice, as he raised his hat; and the two girls drove away. Sybil was apparently in very good spirits. "Do not be frightened, Joe dearest," she said. "We will manage it very well. He is not hurt in the least." "Really, I do not believe he is--so very much, you know," Joe answered. But she was thoughtful, and did not speak again for some time. It was on the morning after this that Joe read the article on John's speech, and met him by the Common. Ronald did not call during the day, and in the evening Joe went to her party as she had intended; but neither Sybil nor John Harrington were there. Sybil did not go to parties, and John probably had too much to do. But at supper Joe chanced to be standing near Mrs. Sam Wyndham. "Oh, I so much wanted to see you, Miss Thorn," said the latter. "I wanted to tell you how much we like your cousin, Mr. Surbiton. He came today, and I have asked him to dinner to-morrow." "Yes?" said Joe, turning a shade paler. "I am so glad you like him. He is a very nice boy." "He is perfectly lovely," said Mrs. Sam, enthusiastically. "And he is so natural, you would not know he was English at all." "Really?" said Joe, raising her eyebrows a little, but laughing at the same time. "Oh my dear," said Mrs. Wyndham, "I always forget you are not one of us. Besides, you are, you see." Mrs. Wyndham rarely said a tactless thing, but this evening she was in such good spirits that she said what came uppermost in her thoughts. Joe was not offended; she was only bored. "Will you not come and dine too, to-morrow night?" asked Mrs. Wyndham, who was anxious to atone. "Thanks, awfully," said Joe, "but I have to dine with the Aitchisons."