The Travellers went down the stone walk waving
and calling gay good-byes to the small woman at the
head of the veranda steps.
MARJORIE DEAN’S
ROMANCE
CHAPTER I.
IN THE STUDY
The sun that pale spring afternoon had appearedonly in brief, tantalizing flashes. Of a sudden itburst through the curtain of ashen gray clouds, behindwhich it had been hiding, into flaming glory.Its warm rays rioted down through the long windowsof Brooke Hamilton’s study, filling the statelyroom with radiant light; transfiguring the face ofthe single occupant.
“Oh.” Marjorie Dean raised her brown eyesfrom the time-stained sheet of paper she had beenstudying. She greeted the wealth of cheerful sunburstwith a fond friendly smile, blinking a littleat its almost too-ardent attention. It caught her,embraced her, caressed her lovely, smiling face;splashed her bright brown curls with gold.
4“You’re an affectionatious old dear, even thoughyou did skulk behind the clouds all morning.” Shemade a valiant but vain effort to fix her eyes directlyupon the king of day. “Can’t do it. You arealtogether too dazzling for me.” She raised ashielding hand to her eyes. “Anyway, I’m gladyou are here, full force. I saw you peeping outfrom behind the gray quite a while ago. I was toobusy then to be sociable.”
“Please, Missus Biographeress, were you talkingto me?” broke in an inquiring, respectful voice.“I wasn’t always like this, so I wasn’t.” Came aneloquent silence.
Marjori