turned his back to his caller.

Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell were playing cards in the
library.

"Well, how is the hospital?" Clover asked, looking up while he shuffled
the pack.

"Never mind about Burnett," said Mitchell, "but do relieve my mind about
Aunt Mary. Is the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun to rally
on a diet of two?"

"She's asleep," said the nephew.

"God bless her slumber," declared Clover piously. "I very much approve of
Aunt Mary asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we know we've got
her and we don't have to yell. Shall I deal for three?"

"They are bringing up lunch," said the latest arrival,--"no time to begin a
hand. Better stack guns for the present."

"So say I," said Mitchell, "with me everything goes down when lunch comes
up. It's quite the reverse with Burnett, isn't it?" He laughed brutally at
his own wit.

"To think how enthusiastic Burr was," said Clover, evening the cards
preparatory to slipping them into their holder on the side of the table.
"He's always so enthusiastic and he's always so sick. In his place I
should feel that, if a buoyant nature is a virtue, I didn't get much
reward."

The gong sounded just then, and they all went down to lunch, not at all
saddened by the sight of their comrade's empty chair.

"Now, what are we going to do next?" Clover demanded as they finished the
bouillon.

"Have a meat course, I suppose," said Mitchell.

"I don't mean that; I mean, what are we going to do next with Aunt Mary?"

"She hasn't but two days more," said Jack meditatively. "Of course--even if
she was all chipper--this storm has knocked any picnic endways."

"I am not an ardent upholder of picnics, anyhow," said Mitchell. "They
require a constant sitting down on the ground and getting up from the
ground to which I find our respected aunt very far from being equal.
Burnett mentioned that we should go to the scene on a coach. That also did
not meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach requires a constant
getting up on the coach and getting down from the coach to which I also
consider the lady unequal. The events of yesterday have left a deep
impression on my mind. I--"

"Go on and carve," interrupted Clover, "or else shove me the platter. I'm
hungry."

"So'm I," said a voice at the door. A weak voice--but one that showed
decision in its tone.

They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a pink silk negligee with
flowing sleeves.