He took up the pincushion.  “Mrs. Dudley made you this,” he said, “and this is from Leonora,”—­he held the apron for her to see.  “Isn’t it pretty?  Turn round a bit and I’ll tie it on!”

The crying ceased, and the tension had passed.  Miss Lily smiled down on the apron with happy eyes.

“Here is a handkerchief that Polly embroidered for you,” Doodles went on, “and this box of chocolates is from Mr. Randolph.  Colonel Gresham gave you the roses—­just smell them!” He lifted the box to her face.

“Oh!” breathed Miss Lily in delight.

“The china dish is David’s present, and these cards are from Mrs. Albright and Mrs. Bonnyman and Miss Crilly.  This beautiful waist—­that’s from Patricia, and the box of handkerchiefs from her mother, and the booklet from Miss Castlevaine, and the photograph from Miss Major.  Oh! the vase is from the ’Hiking Club,’—­and I don’t know about the packages.”

Miss Lily beamed on her riches, upon Doodles, upon the whole tableful.

“Why,” she exclaimed softly, “I don’t see how you came to do it!  I never thought of having a single present!  Oh, it’s beautiful of you!” Her voice trembled.  “I can’t thank you half enough, but I shall love you, every one, as long as I live!”

Doodles was picking up the small parcels scattered on the floor.

“Will you have these now?” he nodded.

“Oh, yes!” she said, eagerly as a child.

Everybody seemed interested in the unwrapping.  They were simple gifts, but Miss Lily fingered them lovingly, even to the plainest little card.

The telephone called Blue into the next room.  He returned almost at once.

“Mr. Randolph,” he said, “some one wishes to talk with you.”

They were rising from the table as the president came back.

“I am sorry to say good-bye so early,” he told them; “but a New York man is waiting to see me on important business and has to return home on the 11.45 train.  So I must get down to him as soon as possible.”

He came over to Juanita Sterling with a little rueful smile.

“I hoped to have the pleasure of taking you home, but—­” He shook his head.  “We’ll make up for it in a day or two,” he finished blithely.

Her eyes met his.  Something she saw there sent a warm flush to her cheeks, and she looked away.

“You will hear from me soon.”  He held out his hand.  “Thank you for giving me so much enjoyment this evening—­good-night.”

That was all.  Simple courtesy, Juanita Sterling told herself two hours later; but now—­her heart was filled with a quivering joy that was almost pain.

On the homeward ride she found herself seated next to Miss Major, with Miss Castlevaine just beyond.

“We seem to be shifted round,” Miss Castlevaine observed.  “I came up in the second car, Dr. Dudley’s; but Mrs. Winslow Teed has my seat—­I was in front with the chauffeur.  So I took the first vacant place I saw.”