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“Oh, she took lessons,” returned Darrie, easily; “Hester got her into them; Hester and mother are great pals.”

“I know; Hester’s a remarkable girl, Darrie; she has always appreciated your mother. Begun again, have they? Started something else while the ballots are counted. Like a continuous show, isn’t it?”

He listened with a slackened zest while the questions of reorganization and details of the duties of chairmen pattered through the hour, the rain after the thunder-storm. Then, unexpectedly, Mrs. Hardy made her little speech. It was an excellent little speech, good-natured, full of sense, and with a dash of humor. At first, she was a little nervous, but she was too interested in her subject to be nervous more than an instant. Had she known of the presence of two auditors in the gallery, perhaps her composure had wavered. There could be no doubt regarding their agitation. They turned pale and clutched each other; then, first on Darrie’s, next on his father’s features, dawned and spread a light of exceeding confidence; with shameless effrontery–considering their relationship–they stimulated the applause; they beamed over the hits; and at the close they were radiant. Without a word Darius held out his hand to his son, who wrung it. Then, they both took a long, long breath of relief and satisfaction. Darius was the first to speak: “My son,” said he, “I have known your mother for forty years and have been her husband for thirty-three, but she can surprise me still!”

“Mother certainly is great,” assented Darrie, solemnly; he added his own little feather of marital triumph: “Hetty always told me so,” said he.

“Look at those women all around her,” said Darius, “patting her on the shoulder and whispering; they know. Darrie, I’ll bet you anything, there hasn’t been another speech in this convention that has put things as clearly as mother’s.”

* * * * *

Myrtle started when she saw her husband and son smiling in the doorway. Her daughter-in-law was on one side, her daughter on the other, half a dozen of her delegation radiated complacency in her wake. “Hasn’t she covered us with glory?” one of the followers called, gleefully to another. And a little din of compliments fell upon Darius’ ears. It is pleasant to reflect that all over the hall similar groups were exulting unselfishly over their own prowess and their own heroines. Little did Darius Hardy concern himself with them. He took his wife under his arm with a proud and blissful smile. He waved a direction at Darrie: “You take the girls, Darrie, you’ll find a cab, somewhere; I want your mother to myself. Now, Myrtle, if sated vanity can demand any more, I’ll give it to you in the carriage!”

A few minutes later, she was gazing, through a happy mist, at the gems on her heart-shaped locket, murmuring: “And I thought you had forgotten the day. And you planning this lovely, lovely surprise for me. Oh, I am so glad, Dar, I didn’t know you were there, I couldn’t have said a word ! Did I–were you–was it passable ?”

“You’re fishing!” chuckled he; and he kissed her hand. But he whispered in her ear; and she blushed like a young girl.

Presently he laughed. “By the way, Myrtle, you haven’t told me! Have you discovered what is the object of the federation?”

“Certainly,” said she, “I don’t know what it is for others, but in my case it is to help me find myself–and my husband!”