"Do come; but I am always happy."
He hesitated a moment. "If I were sure of that I might not come."
"You may be 'sure,' I assure you. And why, pray, shouldn't you come?"
He retreated easily. "Because in that case I could see your happiness, without intruding on you when you are tired--as you must be now. However, I will run in for a few moments after dinner."
Kimberly appeared shortly before nine o'clock. Fritzie greeted him. "Oh, aren't you youthful to-night?" she exclaimed. He was in a travelling suit and his face was tanned from his Western trip. "You should never wear anything but gray, Robert."
"Has she been as agreeable as this all winter?" asked Kimberly turning to greet Alice.
"All winter," declared Fritzie, answering for herself, "except once when Lottie Nelson's dog chewed up a lace hat for me, and Robert, I have spent this whole winter saying good things about you--haven't I Alice? Even when we saw they were trying to put you in jail."
"Many worthy people seemed to sympathize with that effort," responded Kimberly dryly. "I trust you didn't?" he added turning to Alice.
"I? Not in the least. If they had succeeded, I should have brought you flowers."
The three sat down. Kimberly looked at Alice. "What have you been doing all winter?"