“Hello!” called Gordon. “Is this Mr. Jefferson Hathaway?... Well, this is your new brother-in-law. How are you all?... Your mother recovered from all the excitement and weariness?... That’s good.... What’s that?... You’ve been trying to ’phone us in Chicago?... But we’re not in Chicago. We changed our minds and came to Washington instead.... Yes, we’re in Washington--The Harris Apartments. We have been very selfish not to have communicated with you sooner. At least I have. Celia hasn’t had any choice in the matter. I’ve kept her so busy. Yes, she’s very well, and seems to look happy. She wants to speak for herself. I’ll try to arrange to bring her up to-morrow for a little visit. I want to see you too. We’ve a lot of things to explain to you.... Here is Celia. She wants to speak to you.” Celia, her eyes shining, her lips quivering with suppressed excitement, took the receiver. “Oh, Jeff dear, it’s good to hear your voice,” she said. “Is everything all right? Yes, I’ve been having a perfectly beautiful time, and I’ve something fine to tell you. All those nice things you said to me just before you got off the train are true. Yes, he’s just as nice as you said, and a great deal nicer besides. Oh, yes, I’m very happy, and I want to speak to Mamma please. Jeff, is she all right? Is she _perfectly_ well, and not fretting a bit? You know you promised to tell me. What’s that? She thought I looked sad? Well, I did but that’s all gone now. Everything is perfectly beautiful. Tell mother to come to the ’phone please--I want to make her understand.” “I’m going to tell her, dear,” she whispered, looking up at Gordon. “I’m afraid George will get there before we do and make her worry.” For answer he stooped and kissed her, his arm encircling her and drawing her close. “Whatever you think best, dearest,” he whispered back.