“Say, don’t you dodge us,” called Holt.

“Daren Lane!” screamed Bessy.

Then the car halted, and with two strides Lane found himself face to face with the young friends he had not seen for months.  Holt appeared a man now.  And Bessy—­no longer with bobbed hair—­older, taller, changed incalculably, struck him as having fulfilled her girlish promise of character and beauty.  “Well, it’s good to see you youngsters”, said Lane, as he shook hands with them.

Holt seemed trying to hide emotion.  But Bessy, after that first scream, sat staring at Lane with a growing comprehending light in her purple eyes.

Suddenly she burst out.  “Daren—­you’re well!...  Oh, how glad I am!  Holt, just look at him.”

“I’m looking, Bess.  And if he’s really Daren Lane, I’ll eat him,” responded Holt.

“This is all I needed to make to-day the happiest day of my life,” said Bessy, with serious sweetness.

“This?  Do you mean meeting me?  I’m greatly flattered, Bessy,” said Lane, with a smile.

Then both a blush and a glow made her radiant.

“Daren, I’m sixteen to-day.  Holt and I are—­we’re engaged I told mother, and expected a row.  She was really pleased....  And then seeing you well again.  Why, Daren, you’ve actually got color.  Then Holt has been given a splendid business opportunity....  And—­Oh! it’s all too good to be true.”

“Well, of all things!” cried Lane, when he had a chance to speak.  “You two engaged!  I—­I could never tell you how glad I am.”  Lane felt that he could have hugged them both.  “I congratulate you with all my heart.  Now Holt—­Bessy, make a go of it.  You’re the luckiest kids in the world.”

“Daren, we’ve both had our fling and we’ve both been hurt,” said Bessy, seriously.  “And you bet we know how lucky we are—­and what we owe Daren Lane for our happiness to-day.”

“Bessy, that means a great deal to me,” replied Lane, earnestly.  “I know you’ll be happy.  You have everything to live for.  Just be true to yourself.”

So the moment of feeling passed.

“We went down to your place,” said Holt, “and stayed a while waiting for you.”

“Daren, I think Mel is lovely.  May I not come often to see you both?” added Bessy.

“You know how pleased we’ll be....  Bessy, do you ever see my sister Lorna?” asked Lane, hesitantly.

“Yes, I see her now and then.  Only the other day I met her in a store.  Daren, she’s getting some sense.  She has a better position now.  And she said she was not going with any fellow but Harry.”

“And my mother?” Lane went on.

“She is quite well, Lorna said.  And they are getting along well now.  Lorna hinted that a relative—­an uncle, I think, was helping them.”

Lane was silent a moment, too stirred to trust his voice.  Presently he said:  “Bessy, your birthday has brought happiness to some one besides yourself.”