"Peter!" she whispered, and went nearer and nearer until her body rested against his shoulder.
"Oh, I beg your pardon," he said, rising. "Is it all right now? That's fine. It's just a touch cold. Don't you think you'd better be in bed?"
Baby Lennox had seen the beginning of the letter, "My own Betty." She nodded, drew back her upper lip in a queer smile and turned and went. She was clever enough to know that she had lost.
And then Peter bent again over his letter, and in writing to the little girl whom he adored with all his heart, he was safe.
PART TWO
THE CITY
I
"Mother took the car to Lord & Taylor's," said Belle, looking herself over in the long glass with a scrutiny that was eventually entirely favorable. "I guess it'll do us good to walk."