She knew no better until weeks later, when her husband brought Hawthorne home for dinner, and discussing the pleasant times they had had at Newburgh, he told her of Geraldine's going on the stage with Standish. Little by little all came out, and she exclaimed: "Mr. Standish must have lied to me in saying that she had lost her place and gone home to the country, and that he made her acquaintance by a street flirtation." "It was cruelly false," answered Hawthorne, who had heard from Cissy the whole story of the beginning of the acquaintance of the wily actor and the pretty shop-girl. He continued: "He wished to prevent your further association with Geraldine, so as to keep her away from me." "And he really intercepted your letter to her? I did not dream he was such a villain." "He shall answer to me for that injury when we meet again," he said, so sternly that she saw that he was in bitter earnest. She admired him for his manly resentment, and said, cordially: "I do not blame you for wishing to punish him. Any manly man would do likewise. As for Geraldine, when she learns of his perfidy, she will turn from him in disgust." "Unless she has learned to love the villain. Women are so faithful in their love even when the object is unworthy," he sighed. Changing the subject, she continued: "Do you know that Sister Daisy is to be married the week before Christmas?" "Your husband told me." "Yes? Well, the bridal party are to spend Christmas with me. The other girls--Carrie and Consuelo--are coming, too. I intend to have a theatre party on Christmas Eve--a box to ourselves--and I want you to join us, won't you? And bring some pretty girl with you, for my sisters will have their beaus." "I don't know any girl," he began, then suddenly remembered pretty Cissy Carroll. "Oh, yes, I'll join the party if I can get leave. And there's a girl I know--Miss Carroll--the very intimate friend of pretty Geraldine. I'll bring her, if she will accept an invitation." "Very well, and you may take me to call on her in the meanwhile, and then I can ask her to the dance I'm going to give the girls," replied amiable Mrs. Stansbury. And so it was arranged that Cissy made the acquaintance of the Stansbury clique, and fell in love with them as deeply as Geraldine had done. And on Christmas Eve they all filled a box at the theatre--and a merry party they were, for even Harry Hawthorne unbent from the grave reserve that was habitual to him of late, and tried to make himself entertaining to gentle Cissy while the orchestra played and they waited for the first act. "What is the play?" asked Hawthorne, for Captain Stansbury had secured the tickets, and reserved the name of the piece as a surprise to the party. "It's 'Laurel Vane'--a society play, by a well-known author--and it is to be presented for the first time to-night," replied Captain Stansbury. "I hope it is a good company," said his wife.