you'd got on,' cried Susie.

'Yes, I did,' answered Margaret simply. 'I told him I had no taste at
all, but that you were responsible for everything.'

'That was the least you could do,' answered Miss Boyd.

But her heart went out to Margaret, for the trivial incident showed once
more how frank the girl was. She knew quite well that few of her friends,
though many took advantage of her matchless taste, would have made such
an admission to the lover who congratulated them on the success of their
costume.

There was a knock at the door, and Arthur came in.

'This is the fairy prince,' said Margaret, bringing him to her friend.

'I'm glad to see you in order to thank you for all you've done for
Margaret,' he smiled, taking the proffered hand.

Susie remarked that he looked upon her with friendliness, but with a
certain vacancy, as though too much engrossed in his beloved really to
notice anyone else; and she wondered how to make conversation with a man
who was so manifestly absorbed. While Margaret busied herself with the
preparations for tea, his eyes followed her movements with a doglike,
touching devotion. They travelled from her smiling mouth to her deft
hands. It seemed that he had never seen anything so ravishing as the way
in which she bent over the kettle. Margaret felt that he was looking at
her, and turned round. Their eyes met, and they stood for an appreciable
time gazing at one another silently.