Mrs. Tynan in sharp reproof
as they began to take off Crozier's clothes.

"Are you going to stay while we do it?" asked a maker of mineral waters,
who whined at the prayer meetings of a soul saved and roared at his
employees like a soul damned.

"Oh, don't be a fool!" was the impatient reply. "I've a grown-up girl
and I've had a husband. Don't pull at his vest like that. Go away. You
don't know how. I've had experience--my husband... There, wait till
I cut it away with the scissors. Cover him with the quilt. Now, then,
catch hold of his trousers under the quilt, and draw them off slowly....
There you are--and nothing to shock the modesty of a grown-up woman or
any other when a life's at stake. What does the Young Doctor say?"

"Hush! He's coming to," interposed the banker. It was as though the
quiet that followed the removal of his clothes and the touch of Mrs.
Tynan's hand on his head had called Crozier back from unconsciousness.

The first face he saw was that of the banker. In spite of the loss of
blood and his pitiable condition, a whimsical expression came to his
eyes. "Lucky for you you didn't lend me the money," he said feebly.

The banker shook his head. "I'm not thinking of that, Mr. Crozier. God
knows, I'm not!"

Crozier caught sight of Mrs. Tynan. "It's hard on you to have me brought
here," he murmured as she took his hand.

"Not so hard as if they hadn't," she replied. "That's what a home's
for--not just a place for eating and drinking and sleeping."

"It wasn't part of the bargain," he said weakly.

"It was my part of the bargain."

"Here's Kitty," said the maker of mineral waters, as there was the swish
of a skirt at the door.

"Who are you calling 'Kitty'?" asked the girl indignantly, as they
motioned her back from the bedside. "There's too many people here,"
she added abruptly to her mother. "We can take care of him"--she nodded
towards the bed. "We don't want any help except--except from John
Sibley, if he will stay, and you too," she added to the banker.

She had not yet looked at the figure on the bed. She felt she could not
do so while all these people were in the room. She needed time to adjust
herself to the situation. It was as though she was the authority in the
household and took control even of her mother. Mrs. Tynan understood.
She had a great belief in her daughter and admired her cleverness, and
she was always ready to be ruled by her; it was like being "bossed" by
the man she