luncheon, and Mrs. Carr-Boldt would let her bring Dr. Tenison down in
the motor from New York. And meantime--no need to be too explicit.

For just two happy weeks Margaret lived in Wonderland. The fourteen
days were a revelation to her. Life seemed to grow warmer, more rosy
colored. Little things became significant; every moment carried its
freight of joy. Her beauty, always notable, became almost startling;
there was a new glow in her cheeks and lips, new fire in the dark
lashed eyes that were so charming a contrast to her bright hair. Like
a pair of joyous and irresponsible children she and John Tenison
walked through the days, too happy ever to pause and ask themselves
whither they were going.

Then abruptly it ended. Victoria, brought down from school in
Switzerland with various indications of something wrong, was in a
flash a sick child; a child who must be hurried home to the only
surgeon in whom Mrs. Carr-Boldt placed the least trust. There was
hurried packing, telephoning, wiring; it was only a few hours after
the great German physician's diagnosis that they were all at the
railway station, breathless, nervous, eager to get started.

Doctor Tenison accompanied them to the station, and in the five
minutes' wait before their train left, a little incident occurred, the
memory of which clouded Margaret's dreams for many a day to come.
Arriving, as they were departing, were the St. George Allens, noisy,
rich, arrogant New Yorkers, for whom Margaret had a special dislike.
The Allens fell joyously upon the Carr-Boldt party, with a confusion
of greetings. "And Jack Tenison!" shouted Lily Allen, delightedly.
"Well, what fun! What are you doing here?"