d lowering of
voices and mopping of eyes whenever their names were mentioned." His arid
chuckle seemed to strike Hayden like the spatter of hail.

"'What will become of them?' 'What can they do?' 'A helpless woman like
Mrs. Oldham and a young daughter!'" He mimicked feminine voices. "You
heard that sort of thing bleated on every side. All the women advanced
positive opinions on just what they ought to do. The consensus, I
believe, amounted to this, that it was the part of wisdom for the Oldhams
to sell everything they had left and depart for some obscure German or
French town where Marcia might perfect herself in the languages and fit
herself for a nursery governess or something of that kind.

"But"--again a fit of laughing which almost choked him--"to the
disapproval, even horror and disgust of all kind friends, the eccentric
Oldhams did nothing of the kind. They went along as they always had, and
certainly they did not then display nor ever have displayed any lack of
money. They live simply, entertain very little; but Marcia who is
considered a beauty goes out constantly. She is seen everywhere, dresses
quite as well as her school friends, Kitty Hampton and Bea Habersham,
with whom she always appears, and who, as of course you know, have both
married enormous amounts of money. Her extravagance is hardly discreet,
considering a watchful and censorious world; but when one has such
powerful and extremely loyal friends, discretion is unnecessary."

"She paints beautifully, I understand," said Hayden indignantly.

Penfield's thin laughter stabbed his ear-drums. "If she sold in a year
all the pretty little pictures she paints it would barely pay for her
gowns. No, that won't do. But," and a new note crept into Penfield's
voice, "did you see that old duffer who was with her? That's where she
shows her discretion. He is kept very much in the background. It is only
occasionally that she appears with him."

"Who is he?" asked Hayden gruffly, desperately ashamed of himself for
stooping to question Penfield.

Penfield elevated his eyebrows and spread his hands. "Let us hope that he
is the rich uncle from Australia," he said gently. "Ah, Hayden, Bea and
Kitty have managed the affair with Wilfred Ames beautifully so far. They
Have almost succeeded in pulling it off in spite of the reluctant lady
and Wilfred's raving mother; but Wilfred, good, old, thick-witted
Wilfred, is becoming daily more uncomfortable. Fido won't lie down