"To think, my Louisa," laughed the girl, "that we are going back to our West--_home_--again, away from all this fuss and foolishness! Oh, don't be so particular, dear. Throw them in any way, just so they get in! Our train leaves at twelve, and I have telephoned for tickets, state-room and everything. Isn't it _grand_? Mamma will be furious! But dear old Dad, won't he be glad! He's so lonesome for me, Louisa. He says he can hardly exist there without me! And Jim, and Sydney, and--everyone! Oh, I am wild for my horses and the prairie again! And you've got to be nice to Syd! Yes, dear, it's your _duty_. Can't you see it? If you don't, the poor boy will go to the bad _altogether_, and something _dreadful_ will happen to him! And it will be all your fault!" Which statement sent Louisa into a paroxysm of tears, not altogether sorrowful. "You will spoil dose _beautiful_ clothes!" she finally exclaimed, looking in dismay through her tears at the reckless packer. "It makes no difference," laughed Hope. "What are _clothes_! We will have the rest sent on after us. I suppose we've forgotten half what we really need, but that doesn't matter, either, does it, my Louisa?" Louisa dried her tears and assisted until the trunk was packed and strapped. Then they took hold of hands and danced like children around it. Suddenly Hope stopped, her face growing white and fearful. "_If he shouldn't forgive me!_" she exclaimed softly. "Ah, but he lofs you!" said Louisa. At that moment Mrs. Van Rensselaer opened the door and looked in. "My dear," she began, then stopped in amazement. "What in the world----Why, you are going away!" "Yes," replied Hope, putting her head down upon Clarice's soft evening wrap. "I am going back to----" "But he has come to you, dear, and he is waiting right here in the hall!" "No, no!" breathed the girl. "But he _is_!" exclaimed Clarice, gently pushing the girl, still in all her white evening glory of gown, into the great hall. "And he carries his arm in a sling, so _do_ be careful!" she admonished, closing the door upon her. From below came the indistinct murmur of many voices. Under the red glare of the lamp at the head of the broad staircase Livingston and Hope met in a happiness too great for words. "Louisa," said Clarice Van Rensselaer, from her seat upon the trunk, "I hope you see it your duty to make a man of Sydney." "_A man_," replied Louisa indignantly, "he is already de greatest man in all de whole world, and _I lof him_!" FINIS. * * * * * TRANSCRIBER NOTES: Punctuation corrected without note. page 48: "through" changed to "though" (as though talking to herself). page 95: "bloodthristy" changed to "bloodthirsty" (more bloodthirsty than she suspected). page 123: "protuded" changed to "protruded" (teeth protruded from her thin lips). page 303: "upon" removed from text as redundant (patting him upon the head).