"Mother!" She looked up with grave and serious eyes. "Yes, dear." "I always prayed for--for him to come back. I--I---- Oh bother!" as the bell rang. "I wonder who that is. We won't answer it." "But we must, dear," expostulated Mrs. West. "It might be a friend." "Oh, well," cried Dorothy, getting up and going out into the tiny hall. A moment later she re-entered, followed by Marjorie Rogers. "It's Marjorie, mother." Mrs. West smiled up at her as the girl bent to kiss her. "I've come to know," began Marjorie, then she hesitated. "To know what?" asked Dorothy. "If it's all right." "If what's all right?" "J. D." "What do you mean, Rojjie?" cried Dorothy, blushing. "Did he propose? You know I ran in this afternoon and gave him a hint." "You what?" cried Dorothy aghast. "Oh! I just gave him a sort of hint that he was----" "You wretched little creature!" cried Dorothy, seizing Marjorie and shaking her vigorously. There was a look in her eyes that half frightened the girl. "Help! Oh, Mrs. West!" cried Marjorie, "she's killing me." "What did you say to him?" demanded Dorothy fiercely. "I just gave him a hint," repeated Marjorie airily. "I knew he was in love with you." "What did you say to him?" Again Dorothy shook her. "Oh, Wessie, if you do that you'll shake all my hair off, not to speak of my teeth. All I said was that you had wasted away when he was lost, and mind, you've got to ask me down to your place, wherever it is, because it's all through me. Oughtn't she, Mrs. West?" she appealed. Mrs. West smiled a little uncertainly. "Marjorie, you're a pig," cried Dorothy, "and I don't believe you did go and see him." "Oh! didn't I, then why do you suppose I've got my new stockings on?" she cried, lifting her skirts. "Children, children," smiled Mrs. West. "My chief says he'll be made a baronet, so that'll be all right for the kids," said Marjorie. "Rojjie!" cried Dorothy in confusion, and a moment later she had rushed from the room. When Dorothy returned to the little drawing-room a quarter of an hour later, she found that Marjorie had accepted Mrs. West's invitation to stay to dinner. "Is he going to call this evening?" she asked eagerly. "Don't be inquisitive," cried Dorothy, conscious that she was blushing. "You're in love with him, Dorothy, aren't you?" persisted Marjorie. "Oh, mother, please tread on this horrid little creature," cried Dorothy; but Mrs. West merely smiled. "You know," continued Marjorie candidly, "he's not much to look at; but he beats all those boys at the Admiralty." She shrugged her shoulders indifferently. "It's nothing but chocolates, lunches and dinners, and take it out in kisses." "My dear," said Mrs. West with quiet dignity, "you mustn't talk like that."