e my dear at the highest pitch, and
that odious Mrs. Van Wycke behind us listening and pretending to
examine a lace handkerchief. "That Mrs. Lafirme's a trump," she
said--"too good for most any man. Hope you won't take offense, but I
must say, your brother David's a perfect stick--it's what I always
said." Can you conceive of such shocking impertinence?'

"Well; Belle Worthington does possess the virtue of candor," said
Hosmer amused and folding the letter. "That's about all there is,
except a piece of scandal concerning people you don't know; that
wouldn't interest you."

"But it would interest me," Therese insisted, with a little wifely
resentment that her husband should have a knowledge of people that
excluded her.

"Then you shall hear it," he said, turning to the letter again. "Let's
see--'conceive--shocking impertinence--' oh, here it is.

" 'Don't know if you have learned the horrible scandal; too dreadful
to talk about. I shall send you the paper. I always knew that Lou
Dawson was a perfidious creature--and Bert Rodney! You never did like
him, David; but he was always so much the gentleman in his
manners--you must admit that. Who could have dreamed it of him. Poor
Mrs. Rodney is after all the one to be pitied. She is utterly
prostrated. Refuses to see even her most intimate friends. It all came
of those two vile wretches thinking Jack Dawson out of town when he
wasn't; for he was right there following them around in their
perambulations. And the outcome is that Mr. Rodney has his beauty
spoiled they say forever; the shot came very near being fatal. But
poor, poor Mrs. Rodney!

" 'Well, good-bye, you dearest David mine. How I wish you both knew
Mrs. Griesmann. Give that sweet sister Therese as many kisses as she
will stand for me.

Melicent.' "

This time Hosmer put the letter into his pocket, and Therese asked
with a little puzzled air: "What do you suppose is going to become of
Melicent, anyway, David?"

"I don't know, love, unless she marries my friend Homeyer."

"Now, David, you are trying to mystify me. I believe there's a streak
of perversity in you after all."

"Of course there is; and here comes Mandy to say that 'suppa's gittin'
cole.' "

"Aunt B'lindy 'low suppa on de table gittin' cole," said Mandy,
retreating at once from the fire of their merriment.

Therese arose and held her two hands out to her husband.

He took them but did not rise; only leane