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 but this chance at the Howarth business laid, perhaps, a limit for her. It required her only to hold Lew for a time, and that she might do. But her face burned furiously and she bent her head from Jay and turned away.

So she said nothing to Mr. Rountree in regard to New York; so she received in the office, at the first of the week, Lew. He had chosen not to herald his arrival. He walked in and greeted Mr. Rountree, with not a glance immediately for her, and except that he kept her aware as never before of her body, he did nothing which she had anticipated.

He did not even wait for an interlude alone with her, but was satisfied with a moment when Mr. Rountree stepped into the general office.

"I'm sending for you at eight," Lew then informed her.

"To-night?" said Ellen, her eyes on his.

"Eight," repeated Lew, returning her gaze, and after a few minutes more with Mr. Rountree, he departed without another word for her and did not reappear during the day.

Di was not about when Ellen dressed. Flowers had come, flowers which she could not this time cast upon the rear porch, for they were violets in corsage bouquet sent to her to wear, and the accompanying card, initialed, read: "I like to dance."

Ellen had a black, chiffon dress; she had gunmetal stockings and black satin slippers; and she laid them—all out upon her bed, she banished them and laid them out again before at last she put them on.