Geraldine gave her friend the note to read, then they discussed some of the dainties, while Cissy said, regretfully: "If I had only known yesterday that I should have you with me to-day, I should have prepared a real little feast for our dinner, but I felt so lonely and sad I prepared nothing extra, and now I really must slip out and buy something good. What would you like, dear--a dear little chicken and some oysters? For a turkey would be too big for us two!" "Oh, some oysters, please; I am so fond of them, and they are not so good out West, where I traveled so long," cried Geraldine, with real girlish delight, it seemed so jolly to be back with Cissy, playing at housekeeping again. "I'll never leave my darling again until--I marry!" she thought, with kindling blushes, and while Cissy was gone she employed her time writing a very polite note to Mr. Cameron Clemens, the manager of the Clemens Company, resigning her situation, to take effect at once. When she remembered Mr. Clemens, she felt a little remorseful over her denunciation of all actors last night, for she had found this one very kind and clever during her engagement with the company. She went down stairs and engaged the landlady's son to take her note at once to the hotel where the manager was staying, and then tried to dismiss the matter from her mind, but she felt a little remorseful, for Laurel Vane was billed to appear again to-night, and she knew it could not go on, now that she and Standish had both withdrawn--that was, of course, unless the latter could get free from prison, which did not seem likely, considering the nature of the charge against him. When Cissy came in, Geraldine said, happily: "I feel as free as a bird, for I have sent in my resignation in the Clemens Company, and now I shall not have to leave you any more." "Until Mr. Hawthorne steals you away from me," amended Cissy, kissing her rosy cheek before she hurried into the adjoining room to prepare her little Christmas dinner. "Let me help you!" pleaded Geraldine. "Oh, no, you shall be company come to dine to-day. And, besides, you must stay dressed up, to receive callers." "But there's no one to call." "Oh, yes, there is," and her words proved true, for before the day ended there came Mrs. Stansbury, with her three sisters, Carrie, Consuelo, and Mrs. Charles Butler, the lovely bride of whom Geraldine had been so horribly jealous. How glad they all were to see her again; how they petted and made much of her, denouncing Clifford Standish for a real villain. "And you're engaged to that splendid Hawthorne--how charming! Oh, you needn't blush! He told my husband this morning, and we all hurried off to wish you joy," cried volatile Mrs. Stansbury. CHAPTER XXI. "OH, GERALDINE, I'LL HAVE TO TELL YOU MY GUARDED SECRET!" "I have a secret sorrow here-- A grief I'll ne'er impart; It heaves no sigh, it sheds no tear, But it consumes my heart."