"Well, he does own a good slice of it, and as to his looks, he's very much like all the rest of the Ganos except Val." Julia had put great pressure upon herself not to rush over at once and make the new-comer's acquaintance. But there was a general feeling that, however much one naturally yearned to meet the attractive stranger, Mrs. Gano's house was not the place that one could run in and out of without invitation. Julia's patience was rewarded by the bidding to supper, to which she had responded by the suggestion of tennis. Her presence made a great difference in the family evening at the Fort. John Gano's form of contribution to the entertainment of his guest was to play chess with him after supper, or else engage him in conversation on the subject of State Rights _versus_ Centralization. Several nights of such frivolity had satisfied Ethan. "I hear that you play," he said to Julia Otway, as they came out from supper. She, nothing loath, and seeming magnetized into forgetfulness of her usual restraint in Mrs. Gano's presence, followed him to the piano. "Locked. Where's the key?" Ethan asked. "In my dressing-case," said Mrs. Gano, nodding to Val. As the girl came back into the parlor with the key, she caught sight of the expression of demure coquetry with which Julia, seated on the piano-stool, was looking up into Ethan's face. He was leaning against the piano, talking and laughing. Why, he hadn't looked as amused as that since he came! What _could_ Julia have said? With a sudden chill upon her spirit Val came forward and handed Ethan the key. "Ah, here we are!" He opened the piano, and Julia began to play. Ethan went over to the window and watched her. Val sat by her father. Julia was distressingly pretty; there was no disguising the fact. Evidently cousin Ethan thought so. How absorbed he was! He was quite angry at the clatter some one was making at the front door. He knitted his dark brows impatiently. The interrupter must be Harry Wilbur; nobody else approached door-knockers in so athletic a spirit. Yes, it was Harry. "How do you do? I'm _so_ glad to see you," said Val, with an overflowing cordiality that surprised her visitor quite as much as it gratified him. He went and spoke in an undertone to Mrs. Gano, and then came back and sat on the other side of Val. "You haven't told me yet why you were so late at the Hornseys to-day," he whispered. "It just happened; everybody's late sometimes." "Why didn't you come to the archery party yesterday?" "Had something else to do." "Had to go driving with cousin Croesus, eh?" "If you saw me, why didn't you bow?" "Why have you got your hair up? In honor of cousin Croesus? Don't look at me like that or I shall cry." His frank face wore a broad smile. "I _like_ your hair up; you look scrumptious." "Hush! and listen to the exquisite playing." "I ain't musical like cousin Croesus. _Your_ singing's the only music I care about." "You don't care about it; you only pretend."