He was to follow his father's wishes and take up a business career in Chicago at once; and as soon as all the relatives concerned on both sides had been duly consulted, he and Aggie were to embark upon matrimony. “Good!” cried Alfred, when Jimmy had managed to stammer his shame-faced confession. “We'll make it a double wedding. I can be ready to-morrow, so far as I'm concerned.” And then followed another rhapsody upon the fitness of Zoie as the keeper of his future home and hearth, and the mother of his future sons and daughters. In fact, it was far into the night when the two friends separated--separated in more than one sense, as they afterward learned. While Alfred and Jimmy were saying “good-night” to each other, Zoie and Aggie in one of the pretty chintz bedrooms of Professor Peck's modest home, were still exchanging mutual confidences. “The thing I like about Alfred,” said Zoie, as she gazed at the tip of her dainty satin slipper, and turned her head meditatively to one side, “is his positive nature. I've never before met any one like him. Do you know,” she added with a sly twinkle in her eye, “it was all I could do to keep from laughing at him. He's so awfully serious.” She giggled to herself at the recollection of him; then she leaned forward to Aggie, her small hands clasped across her knees and her face dimpling with mischief. “He hasn't the remotest idea what I'm like.” Aggie studied her young friend with unmistakable reproach. “I MADE Jimmy know what I'M like,” she said. “I told him ALL my ideas about everything.” “Good Heavens!” exclaimed Zoie in shocked surprise. “He's sure to find out sooner or later,” said Aggie sagely. “I think that's the only sensible way to begin.” “If I'd told Alfred all MY ideas about things,” smiled Zoie, “there'd have BEEN no beginning.” “What do you mean?” asked Aggie, with a troubled look. “Well, take our meeting,” explained Zoie. “Just as we were introduced, that horrid little Willie Peck caught his heel in a flounce of my skirt. I turned round to slap him, but I saw Alfred looking, so I patted his ugly little red curls instead. And what do you think? Alfred told me to-night that it was my devotion to Willie that first made him adore me.” “And you didn't explain to him?” asked Aggie in amazement. “And lose him before I'd got him!” exclaimed Zoie. “It might be better than losing him AFTER you've got him,” concluded the elder girl. “Oh, Aggie,” pouted Zoie, “I think you are horrid. You're just trying to spoil all the fun of my engagement.” “I am not,” cried Aggie, and the next moment she was sitting on the arm of Zoie's chair. “Goose!” she said, “how dare you be cross with me?” “I am NOT cross,” declared Zoie, and after the customary apologies from Aggie, confidence was fully restored on both sides and Zoie continued gaily: “Don't you worry about Alfred and me,” she said as she kicked off her tiny slippers and hopped into bed. “Just you wait until I get him. I'll manage him all right.”