"I'm so glad--glad!" exclaimed Betty. "You were just coming to see me,
weren't you? My father is in the library. Let me--"

Miss Bareaud drew back. "No, no!" she interrupted hastily and with
evident perturbation. "I--we must be on our way immediately." She threw a
glance at the gentleman, which let him know that she now comprehended his
gloves, and why their stroll had trended toward Carewe Street. "Come at
once!" she commanded him quickly, in an undertone.

"But now that you're here," said Miss Betty, wondering very much why he
was not presented to her, "won't you wait and let me gather a nosegay for
you? Our pansies and violets--"

"I could help," the gentleman suggested, with the look of a lame dog at
Miss Bareaud. "I have been considered useful about a garden."

"Fool!" Betty did not hear the word that came from Miss Bareaud's closed
teeth, though she was mightily surprised at the visible agitation of her
schoolmate, for the latter's face was pale and excited. And Miss Carewe's
amazement was complete when Fanchon, without more words, cavalierly seized
the gentleman's arm and moved toward the street with him as rapidly as his
perceptible reluctance to leave permitted. But at the gate Miss Bareaud
turned and called back over her shoulder, as if remembering the necessity
of offering an excuse for so remarkable a proceeding: "I shall come again
very soon. Just now we are upon an errand of great importance. Good-
day!"

Miss Betty waved her hand, staring after them, her eyes large with wonder.
She compressed her lips tightly: "Errand!" This was the friend of