But strangely enough the two men were already seated by the New York girls, and a vacant chair was next that holding Miss Pierce.

What was more, he was at once summoned to fill it, and in five minutes was again entirely unconscious of everything but the slate-colored eyes, looking so pleasantly into his.

Then he took Miss Pierce in to dinner, and sat between her and her mother again becoming absorbed in the slate-colored eyes, which seemed quite willing to be absorbed.

After dinner, too, when the women had succeeded the weed, Peter in someway found it very easy to settle himself near Miss Pierce.

Later that night Peter sat in his room, or rather, with half his body out of the window, puffing his pipe, and thinking how well he had gone through the day.