Inza was doubtful if he would succeed, but she did not tell him so. She hoped he might, but she knew Elsie had quite made up her mind on that point. “We have but a day or two to spend in Baltimore,” said Frank. “You must go out to dinner with us, girls. What do you say to dinner at the Belvidere? At nine this evening I am to meet some friends at the University Club. Before that I am yours to command.” “I’m another,” smiled Bart. “The Belvidere looks good to me. Eh, Elsie?” To his surprise he saw that her face was colorless and her figure drooping. Inza noted this and flew to her friend. “The excitement, the shock has upset her!” she exclaimed. “You should have let us know you were coming.” She knew what to do to restore Elsie, but the delicate girl with the golden hair was quite weak and exhausted as she lay amid the pillows with Bart Hodge, repentant and anxious, hovering over her. Hodge was conscience-stricken. “It was my fault!” he declared. “I suggested to Frank that we should give you this surprise. Oh, I’m sorry, Elsie—I’m sorry! I didn’t mean——” Forcing a faint smile, Elsie lifted her hand and gently pressed her fingers over his lips. “No one is to blame,” she said. “It was fine of you to wish to give me pleasure by such a surprise. But you see how weak I am. I can’t go out to dinner to-night. Oh, what am I good for in the world anyhow?” Bart was deeply touched by this cry which came from her heart. His fine, dark eyes glowed with tenderness and love. “Don’t—don’t speak that way, sweetheart!” he murmured entreatingly. “I never dreamed you were like this, or I should not have left you.” But Elsie, with the unselfishness which had always marked her as the rarest and noblest of girls, retorted: “I didn’t wish you to know, for I felt that it was right that you should be with Frank, and I would not rob you of one moment of pleasure.” “She’ll be all right in a few minutes,” said Merry encouragingly. “We must have that dinner at the Belvidere.” “I’m afraid you do not understand, Frank,” said Elsie. “I overdid when you were here last. I made a mistake in attending that lacrosse game, and it set me back. Oh, I’d love to go to dinner with you and Inza and Bart at the Belvidere, but I dare not attempt it.” Hodge was now more troubled and distressed over Elsie’s condition than he seemed. Had she not understood him so well, she might have fancied him unsympathetic; but between them there was that mental telegraphy which seems to unite the hearts of all true sweethearts, and she knew that, manlike, while he did not betray the softness of a woman, his emotions were even deeper than her own. Elsie turned to Inza. “You must go out to dinner with Frank,” she said. “Yes, I insist upon it.” “And I will remain here with Elsie,” said Hodge. “That is best.” In this manner it was arranged. “Whom do you meet at the University Club to-night, Frank?” asked Inza.