"My dear," Miss Ferris cut short her apology, "we evidently have too muchto think about, both of us." She glanced at Eleanor keenly." Why aren'tyou out being a little kid with the rest of them?" she asked.

"I didn't feel like it, Miss Ferris," said Eleanor, turning away from thesearching gray eyes, "I occasionally was going for a walk instead."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

"Then"--Miss Ferris hesitated--"may I come too, or don't you want me?"

For an astute person Miss Ferris developed all at once an amazingdensity. She did not seem to notice the ungracious stiffness of Eleanor'sassent.

"Good!" she cried enthusiastically, running off like a kid to get ready.Eleanor waited, her face set in hard lines of resentful endurance. Shecould not openly insult Miss Ferris, who had been kindness itself to herall the week, but she would be as freezing and offish as she pleased.

"Now which way shall we go?" asked Miss Ferris eagerly as they startedoff.