Nelson Randolph stood waiting.

“Good afternoon!” he smiled.  “I want to run up to those corner rooms and see how the light is, now that the windows are shut up.  I think we may have to put in other windows on the side.”

“Oh, no, Mr. Randolph, the light is very good, indeed!  I don’t think more windows will be necessary.”

“Well, maybe not, then; but I’ll just take a look at it, seeing I’m here.”

She moved back slowly.  “I think Miss Sterling is out; but you can see the first-floor room.”

They went in together, but as the man turned to speak he found that he was alone.  With a smile he cast a leisurely eye around, and then strode along the hall to the upper staircase.

The superintendent was coming down.

“No use your going up,” she said in an unnecessarily low tone.  “One of the ladies says she is out, so we shan’t be able to get in.”

“Oh, that won’t matter!” he replied carelessly.  “I’m a good deal of burglar; I always carry a skeleton key in my pocket—­it will unlock almost anything.  You ought to have one.”

“We have never needed it,” she responded coldly, quickly preceding him.

She tapped softly on the door.

“Oh, you’re in, after all!” she exclaimed in a voice of sweet surprise.  “They said you had gone out.”

“I have been here since dinner.—­How do you do, Mr. Randolph!  Are you quite well again?”

“Shouldn’t know I had ever been sick—­except for the doctor’s bill!” he replied.  “Now, how about this light, Miss Sterling?  Do you find the addition in the way?”

“Why, of course, it isn’t quite so pleasant,” she admitted; “but I don’t mind it very much.”

“I think it would make things a little better to put a window in, say about here.”

“Oh, that would be lovely!” she cried.

“I will suggest it, at any rate.  I never like to spoil one room for the sake of another.”  He ran his eyes over the wall.  “We might make it one broad window, here and in the room below, to match the one on the first floor—­it wouldn’t be a bad plan.  We’ll see.”  He turned to go, then halted and looked at his watch.

“I’m afraid you stay in too much.  Miss Sterling,” he said carelessly.  “Suppose you put on your things and come for a ride.  It is very mild out.”

“Oh, thank you!” The red rushed to her cheeks.  “I’ll be ready in a minute.”

Left alone, Juanita Sterling hastily brought out hat and coat.  Her heart was pounding with excitement and—­yes, joy!  She chided herself in no uncertain words.

“Little fool!” she muttered.  “He wishes to ask questions about the Home, questions that I am better able to answer than Polly—­that is all!  He is engaged to Blanche Puddicombe—­remember that, and don’t be a—­dear, dear, where are those gray gloves!  Oh!” as the needed articles were brought to sight.

She ran downstairs and directly out of the big door, meeting no one.