r Susan."

A commonplace face came white as ashes from the fog without, and a
suffocating voice, gasping against sobs. "Oh, M'riar!--Oh, Mr.
Wardle!--_Is_ it true she's gone?"

Aunt M'riar could not tighten her lips against their instability and
speak, at the same time, so she nodded assent. Uncle Mo said, steadily
enough:--"I'm afraid it's true, Mrs. Burr. We can't make it out no
otherwise." Then M'riar got self-command to say:--"Yes--she's taken from
us. It's the Lord's will." And then they could claim their birthright of
tears, the last privilege left to hearts encompassed with the darkness
of the grave.

The three were standing, some short while later, at the stairfoot, each
looking at the other. Which was to go first?

Aunt M'riar made a hesitating suggestion. "Supposin' you was to step up
first, and look back to say...!"

"That's one idear," said Uncle Mo. "Suppose you do!"

Susan Burr, referred to by both, accepted the commission, limping slowly
up the stairs while the others waited below, listening. They heard that
the door above was opened, when the children's voices came clearer,
suddenly. But Susan Burr had only cautiously pushed the door ajar,
making no noise, to listen herself before going in. There was a flare
from a gas-birth in the fire as she got a sight of the group within,
through the opening. It illuminated Dolly, Dave, and the newly
christened wax doll; the Persian apparatus on the floor--a mere
rehearsal, whose cake had to be pretence cake, and whose tea lacked its
vegetable constituent--and the portraits of robed and sceptred Royalty
on the wall. Some point in stage-management seemed to be under
discussion, and to threaten a dissolution of partnership. For Dave was
saying:--"Then oy shall go and play with The Boys, because the fog's
a-stopping. You look out at the winder!"

Dolly met this with a firm, though gentle, prohibition. "No, you
_s'arn't_. You _is_ to be Gwanny Mawwowbone vis time, and set on the
sofa. And me to be old Mrs. Spicture vis time, and set in the chair wiv
scushions. And Pussy to be ve uvvers. And Gweng to paw out all veir
teas. Only vey take veir sugar veirselves." Dolly may have had it in
view to reduce Dave to impotence by assigning to him the position of a
guest. His manhood revolted against a subordinate part. Superhuman tact
is needed--an old story!--in the casting of the parts of any new play,
and Dolly, although kissable to a degree, and with an iron will, was