ying he would be any relation of yours--than a man who doesn't
know what a day's toil is except to cudgel his brains tired, with
contriving the quickest means of making his millions double themselves
at other people's expense in twenty-four hours."

The nurse opened the door. Mrs. Champney spoke bitterly:

"You little fool--you think you know, but--" aware of the nurse, she
ended fretfully, "you wear me out, talking so much. Tell Hannah to make
me some fresh tamarind water--and bring it up quick."

By the time Aileen had brought up the refreshment, she had half repented
of her words. Mrs. Champney had been failing perceptibly the last few
weeks, and all excitement was forbidden her. For this reason she had
been kept so long in ignorance of Champney's return. As Aileen held the
drinking tube to her lips, she noticed that the faded sunken eyes, fixed
upon her intently, were not inimical--and she was thankful. She desired
to live in peace, if possible, with this pitiable old age so long as it
should last--a few weeks at the longest. The lesson of the piece of
granite was not lost upon her. She kept the specimen on a little shelf
over her bed.

She went down stairs into the library to answer a telephone call; it was
from Maggie McCann who begged her to come up that afternoon to see her;
the matter was important and could not wait. Aileen knew by the pleading
tone of the voice, which sounded unnatural, that she was needed for
something. She replied she would go up at once. She put on her hat, and
while waiting for the tram at The Bow, bought a small bag of gumdrops
for Billy.

Maggie received her with open arms and a gush of tears; thereupon Billy,
now tottering on his unsteady feet, flopped suddenly on the floor and
howled with true Irish good will.

"Why, Maggie, what _is_ the matter!" she exclaimed.

"Och, Aileen, darlin', me heart's in smithereens, and I'm that deep in
trouble that me head's like to rend--an' Jim's all broke up--"

"What is it; do tell me, Maggie--can I help?" she urged, catching up
Billy and endeavoring to smother his howls with kisses.

Mrs. McCann wiped her reddened eyes, took off her apron and sat down in
a low chair by Aileen who was filling Billy's small mouth, conveniently
open for another howl upon perceiving his mother wipe her eyes, with a
sizable gumdrop.

"The little gells be over to the kindergarten with the Sisters, an' I
thought I'd clane go out of me mind if I couldn't have a w