"That's a nice girl," cried Eveley, happily whirling into her chair at the table and dropping her hat upon the floor at her side. "I couldn't have planned anything nicer than this. Kitty and Arnold often have parties with us, but it will be much better having you and Jimmy. He looks very smart in his uniform." "Uniform," faltered Marie suddenly. "Yes,--Lieutenant Ames, you know,--Jimmy Ames." "Lieutenant? Oh, Eveley, please, let's not. I--am not fond of the military. I am afraid of soldiers. Let me--Have some one else dear, please. Get Kitty this time, won't you? I am afraid." "Wait till you see Jimmy. He isn't the snoopy overbearing kind that you are used to. Can't you trust me yet, Marie? I wouldn't have you meet any one who would be unpleasant or suspicious. You have found the rest of my friends all right, haven't you?" "Well, never mind," Marie decided suddenly. "I will come to the party, but do not ever let Mr. Hiltze know, will you? He would be raging." "Marie, do you love Amos Hiltze?" "Love him! I hate him." "Hate him? Then why in the world are you so afraid of him? You obey every word he says, and follow every suggestion he makes. I thought you were great friends." Marie flushed and paled swiftly. "It is because I am grateful to him," she said at last, not meeting Eveley's eyes. "He brought me to you,--and he helps me,--and I am, willing to do whatever he tells me except when you wish something else. But I do not like him personally by any means, and I wish he did not come here so much." "I thought you were friends," Eveley repeated confusedly. "He is in love with you--don't you know that?" "Yes,--perhaps so. But Angelo says men can love two women simultaneously. Angelo says there is something strange about his bringing--I mean," she interrupted herself quickly, "Angelo wondered where he found you, or--or something." "Angelo is a good friend to you, Eveley. You might pay better heed to his suggestions, to your own good," said Marie faintly. "I thought,--oh, I do not know what I thought. Well, we can shunt Mr. Hiltze off a little, if you wish. But you should not dislike him. He is greatly interested in you, and so full of enthusiasm and eagerness for this Americanization idea. He has been a great help to me, and he is very clever. And since he brought us together we should love him a little. Any one who struggles with Americanization deserves my patriotic and sympathetic interest, at least." "Yes, I know." And she added slowly: "One can show enthusiasm for the things one hates worst in the world,--if there is a secret reason." "You do not mean Mr. Hiltze, do you?" asked Eveley, with quiet loyalty. "No, to be sure not. I only said one could." "Mr. Hiltze is nothing to us. Toss him away. Come now, let's doll up for our party." They were two radiantly lovely girls who stood in the little garden on the roof of the sun parlor, waiting for the men who ran up the wavering rustic stairs to join them.