pipe!

Colonel Dick's figure appeared for an instant in the doorway. "Edward,
come here a moment, will you?"

"A thousand hussars, and the thing went off like flaming tinder,"
finished Major Edward. He laid down his napkin and arose. "Excuse me,
Unity. Very well, Dick," and left the room.

"Unity," enquired Deb. "Are there any ha'nts?"

"No, honey, no!"

"Just make believe?"

"Just make believe."

"Oh!" exclaimed Deb, and fell to wondering if the ha'nt would come out
if only she and Miranda sat long enough before the tree. It might get
hungry.

"Will you have another cup?" asked Unity of the guest, her hand upon the
coffee-urn. "No? Then let us go and see what is the matter. They are not
coming back."

"I want," whispered Fairfax Cary, as they left the table, "to talk to
you about--about two weeks from now. Don't you think it would be sweet
and shady this morning, under the catalpa tree?"

He managed to touch her hand, and she turned her velvety eyes upon him
with both laughter and moisture in their black depths. "I've chosen the
place for Unity Dandridge's grave. Would you like to see it? It's
underneath the flowering almond."

Fairfax Cary glanced behind him. The servants were out of the room; Deb
was gathering crumbs for the birds. "Give me one kiss! If you knew how
much I love you! The world's tuned to-day just to that."

"Such an old tune! The world has other things to think of and other airs
than that!"

They went out into the hail. It was empty, but through the open doors
voices sounded from the porch at the back of the house. Another moment
and Major Edward appeared, stood still at the sight of Cary, then came
on up the hall to meet the two. He looked intensely grey and meagre, and
his thin lips twitched. "Fairfax," he said,--"Fairfax, look here--"

The other, who had been laughing, grew suddenly grave. "I have never
heard you, sir, use a voice like that. Has anything happened?"

Major Edward made a little noise in his throat, then stiffened himself
as if on parade. "There may have been an accident. It looks that way,
Fair. It was Eli who came."

"Eli! What has happened at Greenwood? Ludwell's home?

"Unity, my dear," said the Major, "let him come with me. Let's go into
the library, Fair."

But Fairfax Cary was halfway down the hail. The Major hastened after
him, and at the porch door laid a thin old hand upon the other's arm.
"Fair, my boy, you are going to need all a man's courage. Thin