rgan out of sheer absent-mindedness, supposing him so immersed in some
preoccupation that he had not seen them or heard her calling to him.
Therefore there was nothing of which to repent, even if he had been so
minded; and probably Eugene himself was unaware that any disapproval had
recently been expressed. George snorted. What sort of a dreamy loon did
they take him to be?

There came a delicate, eager tapping at his door, not done with a
knuckle but with the tip of a fingernail, which was instantly clarified
to George's mind's eye as plainly as if he saw it: the long and
polished white-mooned pink shield on the end of his Aunt Fanny's right
forefinger. But George was in no mood for human communications, and
even when things went well he had little pleasure in Fanny's society.
Therefore it is not surprising that at the sound of her tapping, instead
of bidding her enter, he immediately crossed the room with the intention
of locking the door to keep her out.

Fanny was too eager, and, opening the door before he reached it, came
quickly in, and closed it behind her. She was in a street dress and a
black hat, with a black umbrella in her black-gloved hand--for Fanny's
heavy mourning, at least, was nowhere tempered with a glimpse of white,
though the anniversary of Wilbur's death had passed. An infinitesimal
perspiration gleamed upon her pale skin; she breathed fast, as if she
had run up the stairs; and excitement was sharp in her widened eyes. Her
look was that of a person who had just seen something extraordinary or
heard thrilling news.

"Now, what on earth do you want?" her chilling nephew demanded.

"George," she said hurriedly, "I saw what you did when you wouldn't
speak to them. I was sitting with Mrs. Johnson at her front window,
across the street, and I saw it all."

"Well, what of it?"

"You did right!" Fanny said with a vehemence not the less spirited
because she suppressed her voice almost to a whisper. "You did exactly
right! You're behaving splendidly about the whole thing, and I want to
tell you I know your father would thank you if he could see what you're
doing."

"My Lord!" George broke out at her. "You make me dizzy! For heaven's
sake quit the mysterious detective business--at least do quit it around
me! Go and try it on somebody else, if you like; but I don't want to
hear it!"

She began to tremble, regarding him with a fixed gaze. "You don't care
to hear then," she said huskily, "that I approv