Carley burst in upon her aunt.

"Look at me, Aunt Mary!" she cried, radiant and exultant. "I'm going
back out West to marry Glenn and live his life!"

The keen old eyes of her aunt softened and dimmed. "Dear Carley, I've
known that for a long time. You've found yourself at last."

Then Carley breathlessly babbled her hastily formed plans, every word of
which seemed to rush her onward.

"You're going to surprise Glenn again?" queried Aunt Mary.

"Oh, I must! I want to see his face when I tell him."

"Well, I hope he won't surprise you," declared the old lady. "When did
you hear from him last?"

"In January. It seems ages--but--Aunt Mary, you don't imagine Glenn--"

"I imagine nothing," interposed her aunt. "It will turn out happily and
I'll have some peace in my old age. But, Carley, what's to become of
me?"

"Oh, I never thought!" replied Carley, blankly. "It will be lonely for
you. Auntie, I'll come back in the fall for a few weeks. Glenn will let
me."

"Let you? Ye gods! So you've come to that? Imperious Carley Burch!...
Thank Heaven, you'll now be satisfied to be let do things."

"I'd--I'd crawl for him," breathed Carley.

"Well, child, as you can't be practical, I'll have to be," replied Aunt
Mary, seriously. "Fortunately for you I am a woman of quick decision.
Listen. I'll go West with you. I want to see the Grand Canyon. Then I'll
go on to California, where I have old friends I've not seen for years.
When you get your new home all fixed up I'll spend awhile with you. And
if I want to come back to New York now and then I'll go to a hotel. It
is settled. I think the change will benefit me."