over. She may have her pick."

"Oh, that's so nice of you, dear. And I know she 'll make it up to you in some way."

"Of course she won't I wouldn't let her," Marcia assured the concerned aunt.

Half an hour later, Marcia heard Julie's heavy tail thump-thumping on the veranda floor. It was a glad sound. Julie didn't often use her tail so vigorously any more. Marcia hurried to the door.

Over the sprawling dog, bent a young woman, her fingers caressing the soft fur between Julie's wide-apart eyes. "Hi, there," the girl was saying. "You're quite a pup, aren't you? Though not so much a pup any more, are you, Hmmmm?" She lifted the floppy ears in her two hands, strong yet sensitive hands, while Julie's tail went on thumping.

Marcia started to say something, then stopped so she might look longer. Her caller wore a dark brown woolen suit, tailored and perfectly fitting. But warm for this muggy morning. Her voice came soft, but a little low. Her hair grew dark and straight, and shorter than most girls wore their hair. Marcia wondered what her eyes would be like. She cleared her throat and said "Hello?"

The other girl straightened abruptly. The eyes were the color of the suit. They looked into Marcia's clear blue eyes. They looked long and levelly. Then she put out her hand and said, "I'm Enid, Don's cousin. friend Marcia, of course?"

You're his

Just as Marcia felt the warm, sure clasp of the offered hand, she saw the twinkle in the eyes. As suddenly as that, she knew. And even more than that, she knew. For intuition, which sometimes draws breath from the occult, assured her that here was a happiness which would last...

Marcia smiled, and still holding the hand, led her new friend into the house.