Before he could ask a question or his daughter could speak or explain there came a little shriek from the stairs, a rustle of silken skirts, and a plump, white-faced woman in an elaborate house gown rushed across the hall with both white arms outstretched.
"Mabel!" she cried, "where HAVE you been.

You poor child! I have been almost beside myself, and--" Miss Colton laughingly avoided the rush.

"Take care, Mother," she warned.

"I am very wet." "Wet?
Why! you're absolutely drenched! Jenkins--Mabel, where is Jenkins?
And who is this--er--person ?" I thought it quite time for me to withdraw.
"Good night, Miss Colton," I said, and stepped toward the door.

But "Big Jim" roared my name.
"It's that--it's Paine!" he exclaimed.