"Anne, oh, Anne dearie, did you know the car was waiting for Prince Koltsoff?" She appeared in the doorway to find Anne turning over a magazine and the Prince adjusting his coat. "I beg pardon, but you said Prince Koltsoff was in a hurry. I thought you did n't know the car had arrived." "We--I didn't," Anne smiled thinly. "Thank you." They moved to the veranda, where Anne and Sara stood with arms intertwined. "I am sorry, _so_ sorry," cried Koltsoff, as he climbed into the car. "As I say, I shall possibly not return all night. At all events, _au revoir_." He turned to Anne and half raised his arm. "The trust," he said. She nodded and smiled. "Have no fear, Prince Koltsoff," she said. "Good!" He glared toward Armitage. "To town--and fast," he said. As Armitage nodded, Anne, whose mood was past praying for, called mischievously: "McCall, always touch your hat when you receive an order. And come right back, please; I shall want to go to town." This time Armitage made a faultless salute. When they had gone, Anne walked to a settee, drawing Mrs. Van Valkenberg by the arm, and flung herself down, laughing hysterically. "Why, what _is_ the matter, Anne?" Sara gazed at her in amazement. "Has anything--" she paused significantly--"happened?" Anne drew her handkerchief across her eyes. "No," she said, "not yet. But oh, Sara, if you had n't--" She stopped and gazed at her friend wide-eyed. "Sara," she said, "is it possible I love Prince Koltsoff?" "No, it is not," replied Sara, decidedly. "Anne, don't be a goose. What is it, tell me?" "I cannot; but yes, I think it is--it must be. Oh, I wonder!" "Anne!" "Sara, for goodness' sake, let me alone a moment. Come," she added, throwing her arm about the young matron's waist, "let's talk about other things now. Come with me while I telephone and call off that stupid theatre party. Then we 'll go to town, exchange the tickets, and then--Sara, let's have a regular bat--alone. You know--one of our old ones. I dare you." "Done," said Mrs. Van Valkenberg, thankful to change the girl's mood. While Anne was telephoning and offering various explanations to various persons, Sara sat thinking. It had not taken her ten minutes to decide that she detested Koltsoff and that Anne was under a spell not easily to be broken. If Armitage had tried to break it, if he were there for that purpose, he had failed a long way of success. He had chosen, in any event, a poor method of campaigning. If he did not know what was good for him, so much the worse. She did and accordingly when Anne had finished with the last of her list of prospective guests, she said: "Anne, I have fallen quite in love with your new chauffeur." "I don't blame you one bit," said Anne carelessly. "He's a stunner. But I don't believe he 's a chauffeur by profession." "I happen to know he is n't."