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Show Greeting~ llllt> 'Rose ant> Stiller dame Bernard waved her white lace fan impatiently. "It's the psychological moment," Rose observed. "Why don't they come?" "It's Allison's fault, if they're late," Madame assured her. "I could always set my watch by the Colonel. He-there, what did I tell you?l' she concluded triumphantly, as footsteps sounded outside. When the guests were ushered in, Madame advanced to meet them. The firelight had brought a rosy glow to her lovely face, and her deep eyes smiled. Allison put his violin case in a corner before he spoke to her. "Did you really?" asked Madame. "How kind you are!" "l brought it," laughed the young man, "just because you didn't ask me to." "Do you always," queried Rose, after he had been duly presented to her, "do the things you're not asked to do?" "Invariably," he replied. "Allison," said Madame, "l want you to meet my niece once removed-Miss Ross." The Colonel had already bowed to Isabel and was renewing his old acquaintance with Rose. "Not Isabel," said Allison, in astonishment. "Yes,,. answered the girl, her eyes sparkling with excitement, "it's Isabel." "Why, little playmate, how did you ever dare to grow up?" " I had nothing else to do." Ube 111otce of tbe 111tolltt "But I didn't want you to grow up," he objected. "You've grown up some yourself," she re-torted. "I suppose l have," he sighed. "What a pity that the clock won't stand still!" Yet, to Madame, he did not seem to have changed much. He was taller, and more mature in every way, of course. She noted with satisfaction that he had gained control of his hands and feet, but he had the same boyish face, the same square, well-moulded chin, and the same nice brown eyes. Only his slender, nervous hands betrayed the violinist. "Well, are you pleased with me?" he asked of Madame, his eyes twinkling. "Yes," she answered with a faint flush. "If you had worn long hair and a velvet collar, I should never have forgiven you." Colonel Kent laughed outright. "l should never have dared to bring him back to you, Francesca if he had fallen so low. We 're American~, and please God, we 'II stay Americans, won't we, lad?" "You bet," answered Allison, boyishly, going over to salute Mr. Boffin. " 'But in spite of all temptations to belong to other nation~. I 'm an Am-er-i-can,' " he sang, under his breath. Through the mysterious workings of some sixth sense, Mr. Boffin perceived 37 an Bmcrtcan |
