a few tears when she saw
the familiar things around her, Margery rose to the situation bravely.
Miss Letitia had sent Bella to put the house in order, and it was
evident that the idea of clean curtains for the funeral had been drilled
into her until it had become an obsession. Not until Edith had concealed
the step-ladder were the hangings safe, and late in the afternoon we
heard a crash from the library, and found Bella twisted on the floor,
the result of putting a teakwood tabouret on a table and from thence
attacking the lace curtains of the library windows.

Edith gave her a good scolding and sent her off to soak her sprained
ankle. Then she righted the tabouret, sat down on it and began on me.

"Do you know that you have not been to the office for two days?" she
said severely. "And do you know that Hawes had hysterics in our front
hall last night? You had a case in court yesterday, didn't you?"

"Nothing very much," I said, looking over her head. "Anyhow, I'm tired.
I don't know when I'm going back. I need a vacation."

She reached behind her and pulling the cord, sent the window shade to
the top of the window. At the sight of my face thus revealed, she drew a
long sigh.

"The biggest case you ever had, Jack! The biggest retainer you ever
had--"

"I've spent that," I protested feebly.

"A vacation, and you only back from Pinehurst!"

"The girl was in trouble--_is_ in trouble, Edith," I burst out. "Any one
would have done the same thing. Even Fred would hardly have deserted
that household. It's stricken, positively stricken."

My remark about Fred did not draw her from cover.

"Of course it's your own affair," she said, not looking at me, "and
goodness knows I'm disinterested about it, you ruin the boys, both
stomachs and dispositions, and I could use your room _splendidly_ as a
sewing-room--"

"Edith! You abominable little liar!"

She dabbed at her eyes furiously with her handkerchief, and walked with
great dignity to the door. Then she came back and put her hand on my
arm.

"Oh, Jack, if we could only have saved you this!" she said, and a minute
later, when I did not speak: "Who is the man, dear?"

"A distant relative, Harry Wardrop," I replied, with what I think was
very nearly my natural tone. "Don't worry, Edith. It's all right. I've
known it right along."

"Pooh!" Edith returned sagely. "So do I know I've got to die and be
buried some day. Its being inevitable doesn't make it any more
chee