And Flora, as she preceded the other two into the dining-room, lifted her face slightly and laughed in a manner so musical and mellow that Baron looked after her in amazement. He felt Bonnie May’s hand tugging at his, and looking at her he perceived that she had laid one finger across her lips in warning. He understood. He wanted to laugh, too. But he realized that he did not know how, and that, moreover, this was not the proper occasion. CHAPTER XXI AN EXIT AND AN ENTRANCE It was rather a pity that Bonnie May yielded to an impulse to go out and have a little talk with Mrs. Shepard after she had finished her dinner. It was a pity, because she also yielded to an impulse to talk confidentially to the sympathetic old servant, and as a result she received an entirely erroneous impression. “I’m going away for a visit,” said Bonnie May, by way of opening. “A visit!” repeated Mrs. Shepard. “Why, ain’t you here just for a visit?” “Oh--yes! Of course!” was the response, given rather blankly. “You mean you’re going for a visit somewhere else.” “Yes, that’s what I mean.” There was silence for a time, while Bonnie May tried to realize the full truth of what Mrs. Shepard had said. Yes, she was merely a visitor in the mansion, certainly. And they had probably been regarding her in that light all the time. A fear she had entertained earlier in the day recurred to her. “And I expect they may be getting tired of me,” she threw out tentatively. Mrs. Shepard was what is usually called a sensible woman. “Oh, well,” she replied, “you know how that is. When you are a visitor, people always treat you politely, but, of course, they expect you not to wear your welcome out.” “Of course,” assented Bonnie May. She didn’t permit Mrs. Shepard to see that she had suddenly grown horribly uncomfortable. “You know, when people see too much of each other, they--they get tired of each other,” added the sensible servant. “The most natural thing in the world,” agreed Bonnie May. She felt that she suddenly hated Mrs. Shepard with a dreadful hatred. She did not at all realize that Mrs. Shepard was innocently laying down a general proposition which she had no thought of applying to any one in particular. Still, she meant to behave graciously. “If I should ever come back again, you won’t mind if I come out and bake a little cake once in a while?” she asked. She was achieving her most friendly smile. Mrs. Shepard turned toward her with energy. “I certainly won’t,” she declared. There were no general propositions in her mind now. She was saying to herself: “Was there ever such a cunning little thing?” “And I do hope you’ll come back--soon!” she added. Bonnie May nodded brightly and entered the dining-room. She paused to adjust an article or two on the table. She tried to assume the manner of one who is quite light-hearted. She was preparing herself to play her part properly when she joined the family up-stairs.