e were both paralyzed for a moment.

"Julia!" Mr. Dick cried, and went white.

I made a leap for the door, just as the handle turned, and put my back
against it.

"Just a minute," I called. "The carpet is caught under it!"

Mr. Dick had lost his head and was making for the spring, as if he
thought hiding his feet would conceal him. I made frantic gestures to
him to go into my pantry, and he went at last, leaving his hat on the
table, I left the door and flung it after him--the hat, of course, not
the door--and when Miss Summers sauntered in just after, I was on my
knees brushing the hearth, with my heart going three-four time and
skipping every sixth beat.

"Hello!" she said. "Lovely weather--for polar bears. If the natives
wade through this all winter it's no wonder they walk as if they are
ham-strung. Don't bother getting me a glass. I'll get my own."

She was making for the pantry when I caught her, and I guess I looked
pretty wild.

"I'll get it," I said. "I--that's one of the rules."

She put her hands in the pockets of her white sweater and smiled at me.

"Do you know," she declared, "the old ladies' knitting society isn't
so far wrong about you! About your making rules--whatever you want,
WHENEVER you want 'em."

She put her head on one side.

"Now," she went on, "suppose I break that rule and get my own glass?
What happens to me? I don't think I'll be put out!"

I threw up my hands in despair, for I was about at the end of my string.

"Get it then!" I exclaimed, and sat down, waiting for the volcano to
erupt. But she only laughed and sat down on a table, swinging her feet.

"When you know me better, Minnie," she said, "you'll know I don't spoil
sport. I happen to know you have somebody in the pantry--moreover, I
know it's a man. There are tracks on the little porch, my dear girl,
not made by your galoshes. Also, my dearest girl, there's a gentleman's
glove by your chair there!" I put my foot on it. "And just to show you
what a good fellow I am--"

She got off the table, still smiling, and sauntered to the pantry door,
watching me over her shoulder.

"Don't be alarmed!" she called through the door, "I'm not coming in! I
shall take my little drink of nature's benevolent remedy out of the tin
ladle, and then--I shall take my departure!"

My heart was skipping every second beat by that time, and Miss Julia
stood by the pantry door, her head back and her eyes almost closed,
enjoying every minute