So, coaxing, while the girl demurred, she led her to the millinery section of the store they were in. Of course, putting hats on Geraldine was a very fascinating game, which everybody enjoyed except the girl herself. There was one hat especially in which Miss Upton reveled, mentally considering its devastating effect upon Ben Barry. It was very simple, and at the most depressed point of the brim nestled one soft, loose-leaved pink rose with a little foliage. Miss Upton's eyes glistened and she drew the saleslady aside. "I've bought it," she said triumphantly when she came back. "It isn't right," replied Geraldine, although it must be admitted that she herself had thought of Ben when she first saw the reflection of it in the glass. "Don't you want me to have any fun?" returned Miss Mehitable, quite excited, for the price of the hat caused the matter to be portentous. "Let him pay for it," she considered recklessly. "What's the harm as long as he and I are the only ones who know it, and wild horses couldn't drag it out of me?" So, Geraldine carrying the large hatbox, they at last pursued their way to the railway station and with mutual sighs of relief stowed themselves into the train for Keefe. "What you thinkin' about, child?" demanded Miss Mehitable after a long period of silence. Geraldine met her regard wistfully. "I was wondering if anybody is ever perfectly happy. Isn't there always some drawback, some 'if' that has to be met?" "Was you thinkin' about Mrs. Barry, Geraldine? I'm sorry she had one o' her haughty spells that day--" "No, I was not thinking of her; it is Mr. Barry--Ben. He went on a very dangerous errand yesterday." "You don't say so! Why, he came in as gay as a lark with those apple blossoms and he went out to his machine whistlin'. He couldn't have had much on his mind. You know I told you yesterday he's as sensible as he is brave." "What good is bravery against a madman with a gun--still he promised, he promised me he would not go to the farm alone." "Then he'll abide by it. You do give me a turn, Geraldine, talkin' about madmen and guns." The girl sighed. "I haven't had anything but 'turns' ever since I first saw the Carder farm; but it is unkind to draw you into it. Sometimes I wish I had never mentioned Pete to Mr. Barry, yet it seems disloyal to leave the boy there when I owe him so much." And then Geraldine told her friend in detail the part the dwarf had played in her life. * * * * *