nd the
former, after keeping up appearances in a stately fashion for a few
minutes, was finally persuaded to relent and forgive them both. After
which, Mrs. Truefitt was about to proceed upstairs to take off her
things, when she was stopped by Mrs. Chinnery.

"There--there is somebody in your room," said the latter.

"In my room?" said Mrs. Truefitt, in a startled voice.

"We couldn't write to you," said Mrs. Willett, with a little shade
of reproach in her voice, "because you didn't give us your address.
Captain Sellers had an accident and is in your bed."

"_Who?_" said the astounded Mr. Truefitt. "_What!_"

Mrs. Willett, helped by Mrs. Chinnery, explained the affair to him; Mr.
Truefitt, with the exception of a few startled ejaculations, listened in
sombre silence.

"Well, we must use the next room for to-night," he said at last, "and
I'll have him out first thing in the morning."

"His housekeeper sleeps there," said Mrs. Willett, shaking her head.

"And a niece of hers, who helps her with him, in the little room," added
Mrs. Chinnery.

Mr. Truefitt got up and walked about the room. Broken remarks about "a
nice home-coming" and "galvanized mummies" escaped him at intervals.
Mrs. Willett endured it for ten minutes, and then, suddenly remembering
what was due to a mother-in-law, made a successful intervention. In a
somewhat subdued mood they sat down to supper.

The Truefitts slept at Mrs. Willett's that night, but Mr. Truefitt was
back first thing next morning to take possession of his own house. He
found Captain Sellers, propped up with pillows, eating his breakfast,
and more than dubious as to any prospects of an early removal.

"Better wait a week or two and see how I go on," he said, slowly. "I
sha'n't give any trouble."

"But you are giving trouble," shouted the fuming Mr. Truefitt. "You're
an absolute nuisance. If it hadn't been for your officiousness it
wouldn't have happened."

The captain put his plate aside and drew himself up in the bed.

"Get out of my room," he said, in a high, thin voice.

"You get out of my bed," shouted the incensed Mr. Truefitt. "I'll give
you ten minutes to dress yourself and get out of my house. If you're not
out by then, I'll carry you out."

He waited downstairs for a quarter of an hour, and then, going to the
bed-room again, discovered that the door was locked. Through the keyhole
the housekeeper informed him that it was the captain's orders, and
begged him to