The Green Imp turned a corner to the right. They were not yet out of the city, and at the next block the car turned another corner, also to the right. At the end of another block the Imp, swerved once more--to the right. This brought them back to the wide street which led to the shopping district they had lately left. With silent passengers the Imp threaded its way to the toy shop. In front of it Burns stopped the car. He got out and went in and came out, the big rocking-horse in the arms of the salesman who followed him. He looked up at their faces. Bob's was one wide-eyed countenance of incredulous joy. The other's--if he had seen there satisfaction at having brought a man to terms he felt he should have despised her; but that was not what he saw. There was, by planning carefully, just room to wedge the rocking-horse in at Mrs. Lessing's feet without encroaching on the steering-gear. As they drove off, Bob was bending over and gently, stroking the animal's splendid black mane, with little chuckles and gurgles of joy. Once more Burns looked at Ellen Lessing behind Bob's back. “You're happy now, aren't you?” he asked in tone of assurance. “Then, confound it, I must own I'm paid for letting my wise bachelor notions go hang, just for this time!” “Thank you,” she answered very gently. “And I'm paid for trying to be reasonable.” He laughed, suddenly content. Between them, the little lad who had never owned a toy in his life, stowing the red train carefully away between has feet, gave himself wholly to the rocking-horse. “Well, Ellen,” was Martha Macauley's greeting to her sister, “did you have as interesting a time dressing the child as you expected?” “I had a charming time,” replied Mrs. Lessing. She shook the dust out of her long gray veils smiling at her memory of the morning. “Did R. P. prove docile?” “'Docile' doesn't seem to me just the word.” “I used it in an attempt at fine irony,” explained Mrs. Macauley. “Well, was he tractable, then?” “He was very polite and kind and jolly--until the real business of shopping began. Then he became suspicious--and a trifle autocratic.” She recalled his look as he told her that he would trust her, but that he meant to keep an eye upon her. “Didn't you get your own way about anything?” demanded her sister, with eager curiosity. Ellen looked at her. Martha noted that the soft black eyes were glowing, and that she had not seen Ellen appear more alive and interested since the days before trouble came to her. “Do you imagine we fought a battle over our shopping?” she asked, her lips curving with merriment. “But you don't tell me. I'm anxious to know whether we shall see the boy dressed according to Red's ideas or yours.” “We agreed beautifully on nearly all points of his dressing. Where we differed, we--compromised.” “Red never compromises with anybody, so I suppose it was done by your giving in?”