haven't I? Why, look here," he said, and
pulled out a couple of letters, "these are the first fruits of those
that weep--in other words, per aspera ad astra! Two new guests coming
the last of the week--want to be put in training!"

Well, that was an argument nobody could find fault with, but their
grievance was about themselves and they couldn't forgive him. They
turned on him in the most heartless way--even Miss Patty--and demanded
that he give them special privileges--breakfast when they wanted it, and
Mr. Sam the key to the bar. And he stood firm, as he had that day in the
lobby, and let the storm beat around him, looking mostly at Miss Patty.
It was more than I could bear.

"Shame on all of you!" I said. "He's done what he promised he'd do, and
more. If he did what he ought, he'd leave this minute, and let you find
out for yourself what it is to drive thirty-odd different stomachs and
the same number of bad dispositions in one direction."

"You are perfectly right, Minnie," Miss Patty said. "We're beastly,
all of us, and I'm sorry." She went over and held out her hand to him.
"You've done the impossible," she told him. He beamed.

"Your approval means more than anything," he said, holding her hand.
Mrs. Dick sat up and opened her eyes wide.

"Speaking of Oskar," she began, and then stopped, staring past her
sister, toward the door.

We all turned, and there, blinking in the light, was Miss Summers.

CHAPTER XXVI

OVER THE FENCE IS OUT

"WELL!" she said, and stood staring. Then she smiled--I guess our faces
were funny.

"May I come in?" she asked, and without waiting she came in and closed
the door. "You DO look cozy!" she said, and shook herself free of snow.

Mr. Dick had turned white. He got up with his eyes on her, and twice he
opened his mouth and couldn't speak. He backed, still watching her, to
his wife, and stood in front of her, as if to protect her.

Mr. Sam got his voice first.

"B--bad night for a walk," he said.

"Frightful!" she said. "I've been buried to my knees. May I sit down?"
To those of us who knew, her easy manner had something horrible in it.

"Sorry there are no chairs, Julia," Mr. Pierce said. "Sit on the cot,
won't you?"

"Who IS it?" Mrs. Dick asked from, as you may say, her eclipse. She and
Miss Summers were the only calm ones in the room.

"I--I don't know," Mr. Dick stammered, but the next moment Miss Julia,
from the cot, looked across at him and grinned.