very nice family hotel."

Sue lowered her voice. "It won't do," she said. "We want to help
her--and we want to help the baby. If she goes alone to a hotel, we'll
never see her again. Just before you came----" She went close to the
double door. Beyond it, someone was moving quickly about, with much
rustling of paper. She came tiptoeing back. "She tried to steal
away," she whispered.

"I mustn't lose track of my daughter," declared Farvel. He, too, went
to listen for sounds from the back-parlor.

"Then we'd better take her right to the Rectory," advised Sue, "and
have Barbara brought there."

Mrs. Milo bristled. "Now if you please!" she exclaimed angrily.

Farvel crossed to her, eyeing her determinedly. "I don't see any
serious objection," he observed challengingly. "Your son--will not be
there."

"You've lost your senses! Have you no regard for the conventions?
This woman is your ex-wife!"

"But if there is no publicity--and for just a few days, mother."

Mrs. Milo attempted to square those slender shoulders. "I won't have
that girl at the Rectory," she replied with finality.

Farvel smiled. "But the Rectory is _my_ home, Mrs. Milo."

"Oh, for the sake of the child, mother! For no other reason."

"_If_ she comes, I shall leave--leave for good!"

Farvel bowed an acceptance of her edict. "Well, she _is_ coming," he
said firmly; "and so is Barbara."

"Then I shan't sleep under that roof another night!" Mrs. Milo
trembled with wrath. "Come, Susan! _We_ shall do some packing." She
bustled to the hall door, but paused there to right her bonnet--an
excuse for delaying her departure against the capitulation of her
opponents. She longed to speak at greater length and more plainly, but
she dreaded what Farvel might say against her son.

Sue did not follow. "But, mother!" she whispered. "Mr. Farvel!--Oh,
don't let her hear any of this!" She motioned the clergyman toward the
rear room. "Sh!--You offer to help her! Go in there! Oh, do!"

He nodded. "And you'll come with us to the Rectory?"

"Indeed, she won't!" cried Mrs. Milo, coming back. "The very idea!"

Farvel ignored her. "You see," he added, with just a touch of humor,
"we'll have to have a chaperone." He knocked.

"Oh, come in!" called Clare.

Sue shut the door behind him; then she took her mother with her to the
bay-window, halted her there as if she were standing one of the naughty
orphans in a corner, and looked at he