“But suppose you get tired of him, like a job or a boarding-house, or any of your other friends?” Alix persisted idly.

“Well, you aren’t supposed to!” Cherry said, feebly.  Alix let her have the last word; it was only due to her superior experience, she thought crossly.  But half an hour later, lying wakeful, and thinking that she would miss dear old Cherry to-morrow, she fancied she heard something like a sob from Cherry’s bed, and her whole heart softened with sympathy for her sister.

They came downstairs together the next day in mid-afternoon, both hatted and wrapped for the trip, for Peter was to take Cherry as far as Sausalito in the car, and Martin by a fortunate chance was to meet them there at the ferryboat for San Francisco.  Mill Valley was not more than an hour’s ride from the ferry.  Alix was to drive down and return with Peter.  Cherry said good-bye to her father in the porch; she seemed more of a puzzled child than ever.

“I’ve had a wonderful visit, Dad—­” she began bravely.  Suddenly the tears came.  She buried her face against her father’s shabby old office coat and his arms went about her.  Alix laughed awkwardly, and Peter shut his teeth.  Anne, who had very properly come over to say good-bye to her cousin, got in the back seat of the car and Alix took the seat beside her.

“Take a picture of Peter and me with the suitcases!” she said.  “We must look so domestic!”

“Get in here, Cherry,” Peter said, opening the door of the seat beside his own.  “Doctor, we’ll be back in about an hour—­”

“Without Cherry!” her father said with a rueful smile.

“Without Cherry!” Peter echoed, looking at her gravely.

It was then that Cherry saw in Peter’s expression something that she did not forget for many, many months—­never quite forgot.  He wore a rough tramping costume to-day, a Sunday, and he was halfway up the porch steps, ready to carry bags to the waiting motor car.  His eyes were fixed upon her with something so yearning, so loving, so troubled in their gaze that a thrill went through Cherry from head to foot.  He instantly averted his look, turned to the car, fumbled with the gears; they were off.  He was to drive them all the way to Sausalito; Alix commented joyously upon the beauty of the day.

Cherry, tied trimly into a hat that was all big daisies, was silent for a while.  But when Alix and Anne commenced an interested conversation in the back seat, she suddenly said regretfully: 

“Oh, I hate to go away this time!  I mind it more even than the first time!”

Peter, edging smoothly about a wide blue puddle, nodded sympathetically, but did not answer.

“I envy Alix—­” Cherry said in idle mischief.  She knew that the subject was not a safe one, but was irresistibly impelled to pursue it.

“Alix?” said Peter, after a silence long enough to make her feel ashamed of herself.

“Yes.  Her young man lives in Mill Valley, right near home!” elucidated Cherry.