"It is," sighed Alice, "but I must dress. I see that you were wise enough to get ready before you came down. Are you coming, father?" "Why, no, my dear," replied her father. "I am going to take advantage of my age, and dine just as I am to-night. I'll sit here with Miss Barnhelm, if she will allow me; meet me here when you come down." "Very well, dear; I won't be long. Good-bye for the present, Miss Barnhelm." She left them together and went up to her room, a little surprised and troubled at the evident interest her father had taken in this stranger. Since her mother's death she had often felt a fear that he might some day allow himself to become attached to some of the many women who, attracted by his wealth, had done all in their power to fascinate him. He was different from most men of his age. She knew that. He was strong and well, and had much of the ardent spirit of youth still remaining, but so far as she had ever seen, he had shown no desire to respond to any feminine advances, had never in fact shown as much interest in any woman as he had in this girl, not only since he had talked with her, but before. She had not forgotten the glance Lola had given him as they had passed on the shore road, or his admiration for her prowess in the water. She dismissed any fears she had, however. Miss Barnhelm was a lady; that was evident from her manner. She was probably going to marry Dick Fenway; there had been an air of security in her attitude toward him that spoke of a complete understanding. How foolish of her to worry about such an absurd thought. "Poor father," she said to herself; "how angry he would be with me if he knew of what I had been thinking."