"Look here, Justin. Did it ever occur to you that he'd like to be more--than a guardian?" "It's Diana for Anthony, Bobbie." "I'm not so sure. Doris says there is something queer about it all----" "Queer?" "Oh, about Diana having Bettina here, and then going away and leaving her----" "Sara's been talking. Doris wouldn't think such unpleasant things, Bobbie--there isn't anything between Anthony and Betty. There can't be anything----" But even as he said it he was stabbed by the memory of Bettina's radiant look of pride as she sat beside Anthony on the night of the yacht club dance. "No man," said Bobbie, "is going to wait forever, and Betty Dolce is a very lovely little lady. All the boys at the club are crazy about her, and if it hadn't been for Doris there's no telling how I might have felt--but Doris is the last one, Justin." "Good. I'll wigwag from the porch, Bobbie. Keep your eyes open for my signal." Bettina, still hemstitching on white frills, welcomed Justin with a charming smile, but with a decided negative to his invitation. "I'm going out with Anthony." Justin eyed her reproachfully. "I told you once before that three was a crowd----" "Oh, but this time it isn't three, but two--Anthony and I are going alone in his little car, and we are to have dinner at Green Gables." All the laughter died out of his face. "Oh, I'm afraid you must think me all kinds of fool." He turned abruptly to Sophie. "Mrs. Martens, you'll go in Bobbie's boat, won't you? He's dying to ask Doris." "Do you really want me?" Sophie asked, brightly. "Always, dear lady." Bettina, bending over her frills, felt a sudden sense of desolation. "Oh, dear," she said, wistfully. "Why do all the nice things come at once?" With that sigh, joy came back to Justin. He dropped into a chair beside her. "What time will you get home to-night?" he asked. "At eight. Anthony's office hours begin then." "May I come up?" "May he, Sophie?" "It's my bridge night at the club, dear----" "Oh----" "Please," Justin pleaded. Sophie laughed. "Well, Delia shall chaperon you. Of course you may come, Justin." Justin, signaling Bobbie a moment later, was conscious of a wild desire to shout to the four winds of heaven the fact that for one little hour he was to have his goddess to himself. For Justin's coming that night Bettina put on her white crepe tea gown with the little lace mantle. She was very tired after her ride with Anthony. There had been no reason for fatigue. He had been most kind and considerate. But Bettina's little efforts at conversation had seemed to her childishly inadequate. She had felt a sense of deadly depression. What should she do to interest him through all the years? Would he always have his mind on the things of which she knew nothing? Would she always try and never make a success of her efforts to enter into his life?