er was racked from end to end. Politics
became the daily food of its members.

For Serena it was almost the only food. She was too busy to eat,
except at odd times and hurriedly, and she slept less than ever. Her
nervousness increased and she lost weight. Daniel was worried concerning
her health and would have mentioned his worriment to Gertrude had not
that young lady's mental state and behavior worried him almost as much.

Gertrude, for the first week after John Doane's departure, was depressed
and silent and solemn. Once, her father found her in her room, crying
and when he anxiously asked the reason she bade him go away and leave
her, so sharply and in a tone so unlike her, that he went without
further protestation. He did, however, go to Serena for advice.

"Oh, I don't know," said Serena impatiently. "She misses John, I
suppose. She thought he was going to stay and he didn't, and she was
disappointed. Don't bother me! Don't! I've checked this voting list
over three times already and it has come out different each time. I'm
so tired and headachy and nervous I think I shall die. Sometimes I don't
care if I do. Go away."

"But, Serena, there's--there's somethin' queer about Gertie and John.
I don't believe she's heard from him since he left. I don't believe she
has."

"Then, why doesn't she write and find out what is the matter? Perhaps
he's sick."

"Maybe so, but perhaps she don't want to write. Perhaps she's waitin'
for him to do it."

"He can't write if he's sick, can he? Why don't she telegraph him?"

"That would be just the same, the way she may look at it."

"Then wire him yourself, why don't you? Oh, please go away--PLEASE.
I'll speak to her, Daniel, when I get time; I was going to. But just now
I--oh, my POOR head!"

Daniel made up his mind to telegraph Doane that very afternoon, but he
did not. A happening in the household prevented him. Mr. Hapgood was
summarily discharged.

Azuba was responsible for the affair. Serena was out--"committeeing" as
usual--Gertrude was with her. Mr. Hungerford, also, was absent. Captain
Dan, in the library, dolefully musing in an arm chair, heard a violent
altercation in the kitchen. As it did not cease, but became more
violent, he hastened to the scene.

Azuba was standing in the middle of the kitchen, her back against the
table, facing the butler. Mr. Hapgood's face was red, his fists were
clenched, and he was shaking one of them under the housekeeper's nose.