Harriet and the Piper

sign from Richard, the possibilities began to suggest themselves. It seemed to her incredible that any woman would risk all that Isabelle had, for the sake of

this confession of definite weakness. To be adored by any man merely adds to her glory, but the instant she concedes him an inch, the Beauty throws down her halo, the whole affair becomes mundane and vulnerable. Harriet m

a few days ago; it was the way of this world of theirs. But she felt within her now the awakening of something clean and stern; s

r the cleverness with which Isabelle conducted this pretty playing with fire disappeared, and in its place came the sharp conviction that old-f

st now, when Nina most needed her mother, when Richard was strug

e fact persisted in baffling her. There was an unreality about it that prevented her from tasting the full sweet

warm and silent day seemed to make it more definite, brought the wild-rose colour to her face, and made her heart beat faster. It was certainly a life full and gratifying beyond her dreaming, and it was almost settled now! If Ward did not figure very prominently in this bright dream, she

e practice. The sun was high, and the sky cloudless; under the trees there was a softly mottled pattern of light and shade. Outside the window the hound was lying, his nose on his paws, his eyes shut. Harriet remembered walking in such a summer woo

was always too busy: the business of eating, and of amusing the others, and of keeping the machinery moving, had always absorbed her. Personalities, microscopic buzzing of midges, had blotted out the beautiful arches and aisles; and if ever Harriet walked

at down on the window seat together. Yes, he was going back to the Bellamys', and so was Blondin, but they had both come in just for lunch and the drive.

nce to her. Ward was such a d

eir hands were locked; but she had shaken a negative when

, bad, bad little Edward! I lost two hundred to Bates, a curse upon him. But that was nothing; once, there, I was over

oke a truer word!" the girl said. His

Mater know it? A

s mother brought back realization with a rush, and s

't think she had been a very good mother to me!" He laughed, youthfully, with a bewildere

you leave M

ten, is there a chance that he's stuck on Nina

her radiant dream had come this shadow, far more a shadow now, when her responsibility had infin

briefly. "I'll find Bottomle

m!" Ward said, wat

him for Nina

ave her order. Then they went ou

ore than a scalp a day," sa

girl remarked, drily, open

ering an equal amount, and

that! Look here, you don't think a man lik

, against her promise to Royal. There was no help for it, her essential honesty would ha

ertainly has a good effect on me," added the youth, modestly. "He doesn't drink, and he talks to me--you o

ped up to the young, handsome face that was stirred now with trembling excitement. The quick movement of his breast she cou

one hand to her disordered hair, while the o

, and close to her ear she heard his whisper: "I'm

ess and laughing. "You mustn't do that! Y

back his hair, and stoop

ed, indifferently. "I wouldn't

o trimness and calm again. She took her parasol composedly. Her eyes told him the whole s

ual, but Royal's presence would account for that. Ward burst into a stream of idiotic conversation; Har

Ward?--or with his keen and kindly eyes would Ward's father see exactly what she saw in the marriage? Caught kissing in the woods--like Rosa or Germaine; it was unthinkable! She, with her hard-won prestige of dignity and

lly interest her grandmother with an account of it. Nina rarely had so interesting a topic of conversation. The old lady would go instantly to her son. And Richard--Harriet could imagine him, tired, ha

rolls went the rounds. She ate, hardly knowing what she tasted, and spoke with only a partial conscious

whelming shock of all his life now; he must shortly be exposed to all the whirl of scandal: the silenced gossip, the averted eyes of his world, the weeklies with

asn't listening

now what day we may have o

tudio

seven only, because then it won't be too hot. We shall only ask the people we

, the actor!" Nina inte

ursued. "Maybe we won't let them know anything about it! And ever

rancesca," Nina confessed,

e corrected her. Nina shrank sensitively. "I think they're very c

she looked down at her plate with a fluttering laugh. This w

meant!" she mur

n a pang of self-contempt swept over her. It was hateful, it was incredible, but she w

a great number are there in the afternoons. And then twilight, over th

said Madame Carter, royally. She had been watc

fair!" Royal assured her. "You don't h

d complacently, although shaking a magnificent head. Harriet knew that she would spe

didn't think I was going to let you carry

no more than a second. Harriet's quick colour rose, but before

haperons; I'm not going to be a party to her

estionable taste, in your coming to Nina's party!" said Madame Carter to Harriet an hour later, when th

Her red lips were firm, and closed firmly after the brief answer. The smoky blue eyes regarded Madam

onsiders it suitable, you will be there!" said

s there about this old lady that could put her, and indeed almost any one else who chanced to be marked by her

ed was to lift just one care from the many that burdened his shoulders. On the other hand, was it more probable that this untimely announcement, with its accompanying merry-making and rejoicing, would utterly exasperate and antagonize him? Harriet fancied him asking,

It was simpler, pleasanter, to sacrifice Ward to the general comfort, especially as he, Richard, was very busy, and as there was always a possibility that the women were right, and would make a man of him anyway. Harriet's keen eyes saw, if Isabelle's did not, that Ward had been steadily gaining in his father's good graces for the last year or two. His cheerful, casual manner masked no weakne

e to risk the chance of crossing him. She must wait. She must choose the lesser risk of Nina ma