Somebody else had turned the corner and was coming toward her with a step that was neither brisk nor loitering; that seemed as if it knew just where it was going, but was in no unseemly haste to get there. Sally stopped and looked about for some place in which she might conceal herself. None offered better than her tree. As the step drew near she seemed to know it, and she shrank as nearly out of sight as she could. She had no invisible cap; she wished she had. The step which she knew stopped beside her. "Sally!" said a voice in unmistakable surprise. "Sally! What in the world are you doing here?" Sally smiled as bravely as she could. "Nothing, Everett," she replied quietly. "Just waiting." "Waiting?" he exclaimed. "For whom, may I ask?" "For Charlie," she answered as quietly as before. "Jane has gone in to get him." "Oh," said Everett coldly, "so Spencer has gone in to get him. To judge by appearances, he doesn't seem to make a success of it." Sally shook her head. There did not seem to be anything else to say. Spencer didn't seem to be making much of a success of it. "How long have you been waiting?" "Two or three years," answered Sally, with a nervous laugh. "You poor girl!" Everett exclaimed. "I was just going in to see if I couldn't get Charlie. It is curious how things happen." Sally smiled a little smile of amusement in spite of her nervousness. It _was_ curious how things happened, when you came to think of it. "There isn't any use in your waiting any longer. It can't do any good, and it may be very unpleasant for you. Better let me take you to your hotel. Then I will come back. I may have as much success as Spencer, perhaps." And Everett began a little smile of his own; but, thinking that Sally might see it, he stopped before the smile was well born. Sally shook her head again. "I told Eugene to tell Charlie that I should wait here until he came out. It isn't pleasant, but I shall wait." "But, Sally," Everett remonstrated, "you don't understand. You--" "I do understand," Sally interrupted. "I will take care of myself." She may not have realized how this would sound and how it would exasperate Everett. But perhaps she did realize. Everett only shrugged his shoulders and turned away. Sally was an obstinate piece. "If you want to do me a kindness," she continued, "you will help to get Charlie out as soon as you can." "As you like," he returned. "I will certainly do what I can to get Charlie out. That's what I am here for." Again Sally smiled her peculiar little smile. She couldn't help it. That Everett should think she would believe that! "But you had much better let me take you to your hotel first," he added, persuasively. "I will explain to Spencer." "I will wait." Everett was irritated and quite out of patience with her. He shrugged his shoulders again and started on. "You are very good, Everett," Sally called softly. "Thank you, and good night."