Barney had been in the 105th Infantry Band, and he and Quin had returned from France on the same transport. They exchanged hearty greetings under their breath. "Serving here to-night, are you?" asked Barney. "Serving?" repeated Quin; then he laughed good-naturedly. "You got another guess coming your way, Barney." "So it's the parlor instid of the pantry, is it? I'd 'a' seen it for meself if I had used me eyes instead of me mouth. You look grand enough to be doing a turn on the vawdyville." Quin tried not to expand his chest in pride, for fear the movement would disturb those temperamental studs. He would fain have lingered indefinitely in the warmth of Barney's admiring smile, but the signal for the first dance was already given, and he moved nervously out into the throng again. Now that the moment had come for him to meet Eleanor--the moment he had longed for by day and dreamed of by night,--he found himself overcome with terrible diffidence. Suppose she did not want to see him again? Suppose she should be angry at him for coming to her party? Suppose she should be too taken up with all these strange friends of hers to have time to dance with him? After obstructing social traffic in the hall for several moments, he encountered Miss Enid. She was all a lavender flutter, with sleeves floating and scarf dangling, and she wore an air of subdued excitement that made her almost pretty. "Why, Quinby!" she said, and her eyes swept him. "Have you spoken to mother yet?" "No; where is she?" "In the library. And sister will present you to the young ladies in the parlor." She hesitated a moment, then she placed a timid hand on Quin's arm. "But before you go in would you mind doing something for me? Will you watch the front door and let me know as soon as Mr. Chester arrives?" "Mr. Chester?" "Yes. You see, it's been a great many years since he came to the house, and I want to--to make sure that he is properly welcomed." "I'll wait for him," said Quin, glad of any excuse for not entering that crowded parlor. Lovely young creatures in rainbow tints drifted down the stairs and disappeared beyond the portieres; supercilious young men, all in tail coats and most of them wearing white gloves, passed and repassed him. Quin was experiencing the wholly new sensation of timidity. In vain he sought reassuring reflections from the long pier-glass, as he did guard duty in the front hall pending Mr. Chester's arrival. He'd be all right, he assured himself, as soon as he got to know some of the people. Once he had spoken to Eleanor and been sure of her welcome, he didn't care what happened. Meanwhile he worked with his shirt-stud and tried not to think about his tooth. It was late when Mr. Chester arrived, and by the time he had been placed in Miss Enid's care the receiving line in the parlor had dissolved and the dance was in full swing.