hether I'm to go or not," says Vee.
"They are to hold some sort of meeting here--everyone who has been
asked on the cruise. There's someone now."

"It's Mr. Ellins," says I, "and-- Oh, look who he's towin' along--J.
Dudley Simms. He must be for comic relief."

Just why him and Old Hickory should be such great friends I never could
make out, for they're about as much alike as T and S. Dudley's as thin
as Mr. Ellins is thick; he always wears that batty twisted smile, while
Old Hickory's mouth corners are generally straight, and he knows no
more about finance than an ostrich does about playin' first base. Mr.
Simms owns a big block of Corrugated preferred, and he's supposed to be
on the Board; but all he ever does is to sign over proxy slips and duck
directors' meetings.

"I'm an orphan, you know," is his stock remark when anyone tries to
talk business to him.

Even if he didn't wear gray spats and a wide ribbon on his eyeglasses,
you'd spot him for a funny gink by the offset ears and the odd way he
has of carryin' his head a little to one side.

"What a queer-looking person!" whispers Vee.

"Wait until you hear him spring some of his nutty conversation," says I.

By this time the bell buzzes again, and Helma shows in a dumpy little
woman with partly gray hair and Baldwin apple cheeks--evidently a
friend of Auntie's by the way they go to a clinch.

"Mrs. Mumford," says Vee.

"Auntie's donation to the party, eh?" says I. "Just listen to her coo!"

"S-s-sh!" says Vee, snickerin'.

That's what it was, though--cooin'. Seems to be her specialty, too,
for she goes bobbin' and bowin' around the room, makin' noises like a
turtle-dove on a top branch.

"O-o-o-oh, Mr. Ellins!" says she. "So glad to know you. O-o-o-oh!"
And she smiles and ducks her head and beams gushy on everyone in sight.

"How long can she keep that up on a stretch?" I asks Vee.

"Indefinitely," says Vee. "It's quite natural, you know. For, really,
she's an old dear, but a bit tiresome. If she goes she will knit or
crochet the whole blessed time, no matter what happens. She crocheted
all over Europe with us one summer. Fancy facing the Matterhorn and
counting stitches! But Mrs. Mumford did it."

"Then she'll be a great help on their cruise, I don't think," says I.

"Oh, but she will," says Vee. "You see, she always agrees with
everything Auntie says, and very few can do that. Well, here comes
Professor Leonidas Barr, too. You m