An indefinable something swept across his busily-planning mind, like a breath of May through a slum. Even before he raised his eyes eagerly to the door, he knew that Desirée Shevlin had come into the room. Slender, dainty, infinitely pretty, in her soft white dress, the sight of her struck athwart Caleb’s senses; scattering to the winds every thought but delight at seeing her,--pride in the way she bore herself among the people in whose presence he felt so ill at ease. And she had seen him. Seen him and noted his discomfiture, his aloneness; even while she was responding to her hosts’ welcome. As soon as she could leave Mrs. Hawarden’s side, she moved toward him. As he advanced to meet her, the labored grin of festivity wherewith Caleb had sought to wreathe his features for her benefit, gave way to a glow of boyish pleasure. “Gee, but you’re dandy to look at in those clo’es, Dey!” he exclaimed. “There ain’t a one in the room who’s a patch on you.” She smiled up at him in frank joy at the compliment. Then, looking more keenly into his face, she murmured, her pretty brows knit: “You poor, _poor_ boy! You’ve been having a _horrid_, hagorous time! What have they been doing to you?” In her voice was a vehement, motherly note; as of indignation against the ill-treatment accorded a loved, deficient child. Caleb felt it and it was as balm to his scratched sensibilities. But he laughed loudly as he made shift to reply: “What a crazy notion! They treated me fine an’ I’ve had an out o’ sight time. Honest, I--” “Caleb!” “They made me quite one of ’em,” he bragged, the more earnestly for her unbelief. “I haven’t had such a good time in a couple o’ years. I--” “Caleb Conover! Look me in the eyes.” “It was rotten!” he admitted ruefully; his defense, as ever, breaking to pieces before the onslaught of her sweet imperiousness. “I knew it!” she made answer; but there was no triumph in her words, “I knew how it would be. Oh, if only I could have been here to take care of you, you poor lamb among social lions! Listen to me! You’re not to stir from my side all evening. Understand? Now mind me! _I_ am going to see that nobody is woozzey to you or lets you stand all frumped up alone in a corner any more.” “An’ spoil your own good time?” snorted Caleb. “Not much! You chase on an’ get talked to an’ made much of, you little girl! An’ I’ll get all the fun I want, watchin’ the hit you make. _That’s_ no lie.” “I’d rather be with you, if you don’t mind,” she insisted, “We’re chums, aren’t we? Well, then, mind me and do as I say! We’re going to stay right together.”