w strode
forward, extended her hand, and shook his with good-humored familiarity.

"How d'ye do? How d'ye do, young man? Here I am, you see, punctual to
the moment. Told you you could depend on me. Well, and where's the poor
dear? And who's _this_, and who's _that_?" looking first at the countess
and then at Bertha.

Maurice was forced to answer, "That is Madame de Gramont, my
grandmother, and this is Mademoiselle de Merrivale, my cousin."

"Ah, very good! How are you, ma'am? Glad to see you, miss!" said Mrs.
Gratacap, nodding first to one and then to the other. "Guess we shall
get along famously together."

Then, totally unawed by the countess' glacial manner, for Mrs. Gratacap
had never dreamed of being afraid of "mortal man," to say nothing of
"mortal woman," she disencumbered herself of her bandbox, bundle, and
umbrella, deliberately took off the ample hat and tossed it upon the
table, sending her shawl to keep it company, walked up to Madame de
Gramont, placed a chair immediately in front of her, and sat down.

"Well, and how's the poor dear? It's a pretty bad case, I hear. Never
mind,--don't be down in the mouth. I've brought folks through after the
nails were ready to be driven into their coffins. Nothing like keeping a
stiff upper lip. Your son, isn't he? Dare say he'll do well enough with
a little nursing. Let's know when he was taken, and how he's been
getting on, and what crinks and cranks he's got. Sick folks always have
crumpled ways. Post me up a bit before I go in to him."

The countess's piercing black eyes were fixed upon the voluble nurse
with a look of absolute horror, and she never moved her lips.

Maurice came to the rescue.

"My father has been ill nearly a month; he was attacked with apoplexy;
he had a second stroke yesterday."

"You don't say so? That's bad! Two strokes, eh? We must look out and
prevent a third; that's a dead go; but often it don't come for years. No
need of borrowing trouble,--worse than borrowing money."

"Let me show you to my father's apartment," said Maurice, to relieve his
grandmother.

"All right,--I'm ready! And then you'll let me see where I am to stow my
duds; any corner will do, but I must have a cupboard of a place all to
myself; it need only be big enough to swing a cat round in. It isn't
much comfort I want, but a hole of my own I always bargain for. Aren't
you coming along?" she said, looking back at the countess, who sat
still.

Madame de Gramont di