nse of comfort and companionship she went
back to her aunt's room. She sat there until dusk, watching the sleeping
woman upon the bed.

Then Melvina arrived. She proved to be a large, placid-faced woman with a
countenance from which every human emotion had been eliminated until it
was as expressionless as a bronze Buddha. If she had ever known sorrow,
delight, affection, surprise, it was so long ago that her reactionary
system had forgotten how to reflect these sensations. It was obvious that
nothing concerned her outside her immediate calling and that she accepted
this with a stoical immovability which was neither to be diverted nor
influenced.

Taking Lucy's hand in a loose, pudgy grasp she remarked:

"A shock?"

"Yes, you see, my aunt----"

"How old is she?"

"A little over seventy-five. I was away and when I----"

"First shock?"

"Yes."

"Where is she?"

"Upstairs. But before you see her I want to explain that she is a
little--well, peculiar. You may find that she----"

"I shan't pay no attention," replied Melvina indifferently. "I've seen all
sorts--fretters, groaners, whiners, scolders; they're all one to me. So
you needn't give yourself any uneasiness."

She spoke in a voice as humdrum and colorless as was her round, flabby
face, and Lucy smiled in spite of herself.

"I fancy it isn't really necessary for me to tell you anything then," she
answered good-humoredly. "Of course you have had a wonderful chance to
study personalities."

"I never had a chance to study anything," responded Melvina in a
matter-of-fact manner. "All I know I've picked up as I went along."

"By study I mean that you have had a wide opportunity to observe human
nature," explained Lucy.

"If by human nature you mean folks, I have," Melvina said in her habitual
monotone.

After answering the remark, however, she made no further attempt at
conversation but lapsed into a patient silence, regarding Lucy with her
big, faded blue eyes. As she stood there, one gained an impression that
she could have stood thus for an indefinite length of time--forever, if
necessary. Not once did her gaze wander to her surroundings, and when Lucy
conducted her to the room that had been assigned her she entered it
without curiosity.

"I hope you will be comfortable here," the girl murmured with a hostess's
solicitude.

"I shall be."

"And if there is anything you want----"

"I'll ask for it."

Although there was no rebuke in the uttera