hem to my father," replied Miss Chris
placidly. "It was her pleasure to wait on him."

"And it is mine to have Dudley wait on me. But you do make an unfair
difference between us, Aunt Chris. Why did you call me 'uncharitable'
when I said Mrs. Gordon painted immodestly! Dudley said the same thing
this morning, and you only smiled."

"It was uncharitable, my dear, and besides it is too palpable to need
mention--but men will be men."

Eugenia frowned. "I wish you would occasionally remember that women will
be women," she suggested. She wore a scarlet shirtwaist, and the glow
from the fire seemed to follow her about.

"I won't have Aunt Chris bullied, Eugie," declared Dudley as he rose.
"Well, I'm off again. I may bring a legislator or two back to dinner.
What have we got?"

"The Lord knows," replied Eugenia desperately. "Our third cook this
month for one thing, and Congo refuses to serve dinner in courses. He
says 'dar's too much shufflin' er de dishes for too little victuals.'"

Dudley laughed at her mimicry.

"Oh, I suppose we'll do," he said. "By the way, don't forget to call on
Mrs. Rann to-day."

Miss Chris was gazing placidly into the fire. As Dudley turned with his
hand on the door knob, she looked up.

"I was surprised to find the Capitol so dirty," she observed
regretfully.

Dudley swung round breathlessly.

"Well, I am--blessed!" he gasped.

"So that's where you've been!" cried Eugenia. She threw herself beside
Miss Chris's chair. "What did he say, Aunt Chris?" she implored.

Miss Chris blushed with confusion.

"Well, if I haven't let it out!" she exclaimed. "Who'd have thought I
couldn't keep a secret at my age." Then she patted Eugenia's hand. "He's
a good man," she said softly, "and it's all right about Bernard."

"I knew it would be," said Dudley quickly. "You know, Eugie, I always
told you he'd do it."

But Eugenia had turned away with swimming eyes. "I must tell Lottie,"
she said hurriedly. "Oh, Aunt Chris, how could you keep it? To think the
children are at school!"

Dudley, with an afterthought, turned from the door and gave her an
affectionate pat on the shoulder. "It's fine news, old girl," he said
cheerfully, and Eugenia smiled at him through her tears.

As he went out she followed him into the hall and slowly ascended the
stairs. On the landing above she entered a room where Bernard's wife was
lying on a wicker couch, cutting the pages of a magazine.

"Lottie, I've good news f