Page:Keeping the Peace.pdf/177

 Mr. Ruggles himself opened the gate, and Edward had a distant glimpse of Alice and her mother, dressed in white, with broad sun hats, busy among the flowers.

"Well, well, Edward!" exclaimed Mr. Ruggles. "I am glad that you have come in person. I've stood up for you; now make your peace in your own way."

Edward's jaw dropped. "What have I done?"

Mr. Ruggles merely turned and called to Alice. "Alice, come here a moment. Come here and tell this young man what it is that he has done."

Alice came, but she came very slowly. She came as one who takes no interest whatever in any young man. Edward, his face quite abject with mortification and worry, went forward to meet her. He held out both hands to her, but her own were full of flowers.

"Oh, Alice!" exclaimed Edward. "What have I done?"

His distress was so obvious, and obviously so sincere, that Alice softened to him. "You might have written," she said.

"I did. I wrote many times. And you—you might have written to me."

Alice was frankly puzzled and taken aback and distressed. She dropped the flowers to the ground, made a swift step forward and caught both Ed-