There were more greetings to be gone through. They sat about the fire for awhile; and Halloran had to give an account of himself, and had to listen to Mrs. Davies's open approval of him. She had heard of him now and then; she had known from the first that he would get on; she was downright proud of him, in fact. This was something of an ordeal, and he felt relieved when she withdrew and left Margaret with him. The two stood for a moment looking into the fire; then she nodded toward the Morris chair and he dropped into it. She sat down on the other side of the table and propped up her chin on her two hands. For a moment they sat looking at each other. Finally they both smiled. “Well,” she observed, “we've been growing up, haven't we?” So she had remarked it, too. “Yes, I guess we have,” he replied. “Rather more than I had thought.” “You didn't expect to find me the same girl you left here, did you?” Halloran gazed moodily into the fire. “I don't know. I couldn't say just what I did expect.” “But it's different, anyway, isn't it?” He nodded. “And now you don't like it because you think we shall have to begin all over again getting acquainted?” He nodded again. Then, looking up, he was assured by her friendly smile. She slowly shook her head at him. “That isn't quite fair,” she went on. “Here I have been staying right at home and doing the same things all these three years. If I have grown a little older, I couldn't help it very well. But you have grown to be a business man with ever so many interests, and I suppose you are very successful--anyway, you have changed so much I hardly knew you. How long are you going to be here?” “Until Monday or Tuesday.” “You must come to dinner to-morrow, then. You'd better come planning to spend the rest of the day.” “Thanks, I will. How is George?” Her face grew serious. “He has been giving me a good deal of trouble lately. I don't know what to make of him. He lost his home, you know--or maybe you don't. Have you heard the story?” “No.” “It is a strange one. To begin with, his sister Elizabeth eloped with Mr. Le Duc.” “Not Apples?” [Illustration: 0159] “Yes; they were married in St. Joe, and she went on the stage with him. Jimmie McGinnis is with them, too. They call themselves the three Le Ducs, I believe. And Mrs. Craig lost her position. The Le Ducs are in Chicago now, at a cheap theatre, and Mrs. Craig is living with them; but they refused to take George, too. They seem to grudge her even the little they do. So George was turned out into the street and got into bad company, and now he's in jail. I don't think it's as bad as it sounds. His companions are a good deal older, and Mr. Babcock, who has been looking after him, says he will undoubtedly be released. I almost wrote you about it a little while ago.” “I wish you had.” “Well,” she hesitated, “I didn't know--it has been so long.” She looked up. “To tell the truth, I didn't know whether you were still interested.”