You look tired to death. Sit over here beside me.” And he sat down on a big luxurious couch and tried to catch her hand and pull her down beside him.

But Jennifer drew away from him and sat instead on a straight little chair almost in front of him, her pretty chin lifted with the least suggestion of aloofness about her, ignoring his request that she sit beside him.

“Why, I’m not really so tired,” she said coolly. “Of course, I’ve been pretty busy. There have been a great many things to think of, and it’s rather hard to get adjusted to the situation. Did you have a pleasant time in the mountains?”

“Oh, sure! I always have a swell time when I go fishing. Made a record catch and was the envy of all the older men. Took a lot of snapshots, too. I want to show them to you as soon as I can get them developed. Say, how about coming up to the house to dinner with me tonight? The mater said there wouldn’t be anybody there but Dad and herself, and it wouldn’t be a social affair, so you needn’t feel there is anything out of place in coming, even if it is rather soon for you to go out. You know us all so well that it won’t count. I’ve got something to talk over with you, and we can do it better there than here.”

Jennifer’s expression hardened and her lips went into a thin line. “That’s very kind, I’m sure,” she said, her tone a bit haughty, “but I couldn’t think of leaving the children tonight.”

“Oh, say now, Jen, don’t get that way! You aren’t going to tie yourself to those kids, are you? Why, that’s ridiculous! There are surely servants enough to look after them, and outside of that there are relatives enough. Your Aunt Lutie told me a few minutes ago that they were all going to be invited out tonight to dinner, anyway.”

“They are not going out to dinner,” said Jennifer with firmness. “You forget that they are only children, and that they have had a great shock and feel that I am the one to turn to now that Mother is gone!”

“Well, you surely are not going to encourage them in sentimental wailings. Sob stuff! I never thought you were like that!”

Jennifer stared at him coldly.

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean,” she said haughtily. “I love my brothers and sisters, of course, and at a time like this we do not care to be away from each other.”

“Well, you’re making a great mistake, Jen,” said the young man, with a superior smile. “If you begin like that you’ll find it will hamper you endlessly, and I don’t see having you hampered this winter. I have a great many plans for the season, and you’re not to be tied up so you will spoil them.”

“Oh really?” said Jennifer indifferently. “I’m afraid you’ll have to find someone else, or else change your plans. I intend to look after my family! I’m in place of their mother, now, you know!”

Peter Willis stared at her with almost a shade of contempt on his face.

“What utter rot!” he said. “Your brothers and sisters will be shipped off to boarding schools till they are grown up and ready to shift for themselves, and you’ve nothing whatever to do with the matter. It wouldn’t be at all wise for you to start in even for a few days to coddle them and make them softies. Just make trouble for them when they go away. Be sensible! Come on to dinner with me. I really have something important to tell you, and I can’t possibly do it here with a lot of kids racing in and out. It has to do with you and me, and our future, Jen!”

Jennifer suddenly rose and glanced down at her wristwatch.

“Sorry!” she said with a lift of her chin and a level look at the young man. “It wouldn’t matter what it had to do with, would it? I’m not interested to that extent.”

“Now, Jen, snap out of it! I really have got awfully important things to say to you.”

“Well, you’ll have to say them quickly, then,” said Jennifer, “for I have awfully important duties just now and I can’t give you but five minutes.” She gave another glance at her watch with a soft little frown on her smooth brows.

“My word, Jen, what’s the matter with you? I never saw you act like this before!”

“Perhaps not,” said Jennifer. “You never saw me with a lot of responsibilities on me before. What is it that is so important? Why can’t you tell me quickly? I really am in a great hurry just now. Don’t waste time.