d
backed out--as a bell began to ring somewhere persistently.

Clare had set down the suitcase and the cage. As Sue closed the door
and turned to her, the sight of that lowered head and bent shoulders
brought the tears to her eyes. "You want to get away?" she asked
gently; "you want to be lost again?"

The other straightened. "What if I do!" she cried, angrily. "It's my
own business, isn't it? Why don't you mind yours?"

"Now look here!" put in Balcome, advancing to stand between the two.
"You ought to be ashamed of yourself! Miss Milo came with the kindest
intentions in the world----"

"No, no," pleaded Sue. And to Clare, "I'm going. I haven't wanted to
make you unhappy. And, oh, if you're alone----"

"Rot!" interrupted Balcome, impatiently. "She's got relatives right
here in the house." He shuffled his feet and swung his hat.

"I have not!"

Balcome puffed his cheeks with astonishment and anger, and appealed to
Wallace. "Didn't she say so?" he demanded. "And that child called her
Aunt Clare."

"A--child," repeated Sue, slowly. "A--child?"

"My--my brother's little girl."

"A-a-a-ah!" taunted Balcome. "And ten minutes ago, it was her sister's
little girl." He laughed.

"My sister-in-_law_!"--she fairly screamed at him. "Oh, I wish you'd
go--all of you! How dare you shove your way in here! Haven't I
suffered enough? And you hunt me down! And torture me! Torture me!"
Wildly, she made as if to drive them out, pushing Sue from her; gasping
and sobbing.

"Wallace!--Mr. Balcome!" Backing out of Clare's reach, Sue took the
two men with her.

"Go!--Go!--Go!" It was hysteria, or a very fair imitation of it.

Then of a sudden, while her arms were yet upraised, she looked past the
three who were retreating and through the door now opening at their
back. Another trio was in the hall--Tottie, important and smiling;
Mrs. Milo, elbowing her way ahead of the landlady to hear and see; and
with her, Farvel, grave, concerned, wondering.

"More visitors!" hailed Tottie.

"Susan, I distinctly told you----"

Clare's look fastened on Farvel. She went back a few steps unsteadily,
until the door to her own room stopped her. There she hung, as it
were, pallid and open-mouthed.

And Farvel made no sound. He came past the others until he stood
directly in front of the drooping, suffering creature against the
panels. His look was the look of a man who sees a ghost.

Wallace, with quick foresig