ult a subject as my uncle would be quite capable of inspiring him
with delight in the canine species. My respect for the woman's powers of
persuasion was intensified by this disclosure.

She had failed to wire Torrence as she promised or he had neglected to
warn me of her coming; either way it was a pretty kettle of fish, and I
shuddered at the thought of facing her wholly pardonable indignation.

To make sure that nothing was required of me until morning, I drove past
the house with the army hanging to the footboard. The lower rooms were
dark, but lights twinkled through the second-story shutters. My aunt was
established on the premises, and her coming and the circumstances of her
advent constituted a good joke of which I and not she was the victim.
When I reached my quarters in the garage I sat down and laughed until
Flynn appeared, frightened by my noisy mirth that had penetrated to his
quarters. I got rid of him and smoked a pipe and began the packing I
meant to finish early in the morning.

I wakened early, rang a bell connecting my rooms with the chauffeur's
end of the garage as a warning to the Flynns to prepare breakfast, and
was dressed when the Irishman came in with the tray. In the absence of a
morning paper I clung to him for company.

"I trust you will not be leaving, sorr," he remarked, eyeing my
half-packed trunk.

"Very soon, Flynn."

"Then Elsie and I will be going too, sorr. It's most uncomfortable
they're making us--Dutch and the rest. That Antoine and his army keep
pesterin' us and callin' us Huns."

"You raise a very interesting question, Flynn, a very delicate question
of fact and propriety. Satisfied as you and Elsie are of your entire
loyalty to the United States and the associated Powers, I think you
should remain, a martyr, if need be, to the great cause of world
democracy."

"It's most disagreeable we find it, the wife and me," he said
mournfully.

"Suffer and be strong--that's the watchword! We will hope that Mrs.
Bashford is a woman of sound sense and tact who will exert herself to
restore peace on her property. When I call to pay my respects and make
my adieus I shall speak to her of the situation and vouch for your
loyalty. You may count on me. You haven't, I suppose, seen the widow
yet--she's probably sleeping late."

"Quite the contrary, sorr. She's been up and around for an hour an'
more. She's been all over the place and stopped for a squint at the
garage, her and the pup.