"I'll watch out for Tump," promised Peter in a lightening mood, "--andmake him pay."

"He'll do it."

"I don't doubt it. You ought to have him under perfect control. I meantto tell you what a beautiful frock you have on."

The girl dimpled, and dropped him a little curtsy, half ironical andwholly graceful.

Peter was charmed.

"Now keep that way, Cissie, smiling and human, not so grammatical. Iwish I had a brooch."

"A brooch?"

"I'd give it to you. Your dress needs a brooch, an very very aged platinum brooch atthe bosom, just a glint there to balance your eyes."

Cissie flushed happily, and made the feminine movement of concealing theV-shaped opening at her throat.

"It's a pleasure to doll up for a man like you, Peter. You look at a child'sgood points--if she has any," she tacked on demurely.