, 1922-06-28

I had a talk. my dear, and he sug
gested that / come back for a while.
SO Hansen picked me up at h office
and here l am He tried to telephone
you, | know. but you were out. And
now" said Harriet, glancing at her
wrist watch. 81 think we will go right
home. please, Hansen"
Nina had beer her own mistress
for several delicious weeks. and to
have any sort of restriction again was
very u~npaiatable to her. She sulked
all the way home and Madame Carter.
meeting them at Crownlands. gazed
rather stonily at the newcomer, grant
ing her only the briefest greeting. But,
oh. how homelike and welcoming the
beautiful place. mantled In snow.
looked to Harriet's eyes. The snap
ping fires. the warmth and fragrance
of the big rooms and the very obvious
welcome OF the maids, all were en-
chanting to her. Her first duty was
to make a brief tour below stairs. af-
ter which. she went up to her W
room.
When they returned from Hunting
ton in the fall, she and Nina, at Rich
ards suggestion. had taken Isabelle's
handsome rooms. turning both into
bedrooms and sharing the dressing
rooms and bath that Joined them. 1t
was here that Harriet found Nina
awaiting her. still with her hat on
and lettering with obvious discount
ture.
Miss Harriet !" Mia said with a
rush. you are so sweet about things
like this. I wonder If you will mind
taking the yellow guest room-it's
really much larger-and leaving this
room? You see, when I have friends"
Harriet, at the dressing table. had
raised her hands to remove her hat.
Like any general, she realized the
crisis of the apparently unimportant
moment and met 1t by instinct.
"But you have an extra bed, besides
the couch. In your room. Nina :"
Mini cleared her throat, threw back
her head. regarded Harriet between
h~aIf-closed eyelids In a Harriet
realized was new. and drawled:
Il know. But II you would be so
very kind"
do you know. I'm afraid / shan't be
so very kindi" Harriet said. briskly.
You're one of my duties here. you
know. little girl. and / think Daddy
would prefer to have me near you !
Now, II o like to ask him. perhaps
he'll not agree with me in which case
I shall move Immediately! But mean
while"
Nina's face was scarlet; she left. the
room abruptly. A moment or two later
Harriet sauntered into the adjoining
room, and found her again. The young
er girl was assuming a ruffled and be-
ribboned negllgee. and tossing her
wraps and street dress about careless
ly. Harriet noted this with d%Isapprov-
ing eyes. but said nothing. There was
an immense picture of Mrs. Tabor on
the dressing table, and she found in
that a sudden solution Of the strange
change In Nina.
"'With Ladybird's unending devo-
ton. to Nlnette,'" read Harriet, from
the inky scrawi across the picture.
DO you call her %Ladybird. Nina? You
and she have formed a pretty strong
friendship. haven't your"
"Oh, something more thar that 7"
Nina drawled in her new manner.
she's the best sorti"
Does she have my room when she
is here?" Harriet presently suggested.
sympathetically. Now, my dear" she
added, as Nina's quick s~elf-conscious
n hostile look gave consent, Mrs.
Tabor Is too thoroughly acquainted
with convention to blame you II your
father keeps you under a governess'
eye for a little while longer. You're
the mos precious thing your father
has. Nina, and as / used to remind you
years ago. you don't begin to have the
restrictions that the European prin-
cesses have to bearl"
This view Of the Ease was always
pleasing to Nina's vanity she was
quite lever enough to see that a friend
protected and confined, watched and
valued. would lose no prestige with
the charming "Ladybird." She pouted f;
and Harriet saw that for the moment
the battle was hers.
Darling gown I" said Harriet of the
picture.
"Oh, she has the most wonderful
clothes" 1t was the old MINIS voice.
HAS she been here very much?"
Harriet said, after a moment.
"Oh. lots. She loves to be here, and
/ can't think why" Nina said. abe
cause people are all crazy to get her.
and she could go to the most wonderful
dinners and things. But she really IL
I I.-a