The twilight was gathering when they reached the house, and an angry anxious mother was waiting high up on the stoop. “Watch me smooth every wrinkle out of her brow now!” she whispered as she flew up the steps. Before her mother could say a word, a white hand was on her mouth and pretty lips were whispering something in her ears she had never heard before. There was the sound of a kiss and he heard Sallie say, “Not a word!” And the mother greeted him with a smile and a curiously searching look. She chatted pleasantly until her daughter returned from her room, and then left her. Again it was nearly twelve o’clock before he reached the hotel. The next morning Bob St. Clare broke in on him before he was out of bed. “Look here, you sly dog, what are you doing slipping and sliding around here yet?” “Bob, you’re the man I want to see. Tell me all you know about the Worths.” “The Worths? Which one?” “There’s only one so far as I can see.” “Well, you may find out there’s two if you should happen to collide with the General.” “Does he cut up at times?” “He’s all right till he turns on you, and then you want to find shelter.” “Did you ever run up against him?” “No, I never got that far. He’s hail-fellow-well-met with every youngster in town. He will laugh and joke about his daughter until he thinks she is in earnest about a fellow, and then he swoops down on him like a hawk. I ’ll bet a hundred dollars he’s playing you now for all you’re worth against the latest favourite. But Miss Sallie--she’s an angel!” “Look here, Bob, you’re not in love with her?” “Well, I’m convalescing at present my boy. Every boy in the town has been there, but I don’t believe she cares a snap for a man of us unless it’s that big redheaded McLeod. I can’t make his position out exactly.” “Did she jolt you hard when you hit the ground?” “Easiest thing you ever saw. She has a supreme genius for painless cruelty. When the time comes she can pull your eye-tooth out in such a delicate friendly way you will have to swear she hasn’t hurt you.” “You still go?” “Lord yes, we all do,--sort of a congress of the lost meet down there. They all hang on. She keeps the friendship of every poor devil she kills.” “You know you make the cold chills run down my back when you talk like that.” “Are you in love with her, Gaston?” “To tell you the truth, I don’t know.” “Then what in the thunder have you been doing out there two days and nights, if you haven’t made love to her?” “Just basking in the sun.” “Well, you are a fool. Eleven hours the first day, and fifteen hours yesterday. Confound you, don’t you know a dozen fellows in town are cursing you for all they can think of?” “What about?” “Why for trying to hog the whole time, day and night. She won’t let a mother’s son of them come near till you’re gone.” “Well, that’s immense!” exclaimed Gaston slapping his friend on the back. 233