n," urged Emma.

"Don't, for goodness' sake, Hendy," begged Jimmie, "not you, she's wild
about you going downstairs," she whispered.

Miriam struggled with her gratification. "Oh go, som one; go you,
Clara!"

"Better leave her alone," ruled Gertrude.

"We miss old Minna, don't we?" concluded Bertha.

4

The heat grew intense.

The air was more and more oppressive as the day went on.

Clara fainted suddenly just after dinner, and Fraulein, holding a little
discourse on clothing and an enquiry into wardrobes, gave a general
permission for the reduction of garments to the minimum and sent
everyone to rest uncorseted until tea-time, promising a walk to the
woods in the cool of the evening. There was a sense of adventure in the
house. It was as if it were being besieged. It gave Miriam confidence to
approach Fraulein for permission to rearrange her trunk in the basement.
She let Fraulein understand that her removal was not complete, that
there were things to do before she could be properly settled in her new
room.

"Certainly, Miss Henderson, you are quite free," said Fraulein instantly
as the girls trooped upstairs.

Miriam knew she wanted to avoid an afternoon shut up with Emma and
Ulrica and she did not in the least want to lie down. It seemed to her
a very extraordinary thing to do. It surprised and disturbed her. It
suggested illness and weakness. She could not remember having lain down
in the daytime. There had been that fortnight in the old room at home
with Harriett... chicken-pox and new books coming and games, and Sarah
reading the Song of Hiawatha and their being allowed to choose their
pudding. She could not remember feeling ill. Had she ever felt ill?...
Colds and bilious attacks....

She remembered with triumph a group of days of pain two years ago.
She had forgotten.... Bewilderment and pain... her mother's constant
presence... everything, the light everywhere, the leaves standing out
along the tops of hedgerows as she drove with her mother, telling her
of pain and she alone in the midst of it... for always... pride, long
moments of deep pride.... Eve and Sarah congratulating her, Eve stupid
and laughing... the new bearing of the servants... Lily Belton's
horrible talks fading away to nothing.

Fraulein had left her and gone to her room. Every door and window on
the ground floor stood wide excepting that leading to Fraulein's little
double rooms. She wondered what the rooms were like and