rge or if it were
not enough why didn't you use it and ask for another? Because I had
to be away that was merely to leave you something to go on until I got
back."

Then Linda did the most disconcerting thing possible. In her effort at
self-control she went too far. She merely folded her hands in her lap
and sat looking straight at Eileen without saying one word. It did not
show much on the surface, but Eileen really had a conscience, she really
had a soul; Linda's eyes, resting rather speculatively on her, were
honest eyes, and Eileen knew what she knew. She flushed and fidgeted,
and at last she broke out impatiently: "Oh, for goodness' sake, Linda,
don't play 'Patience-on-a-monument.' Speak up and say what it is that
you want. If that cheque was not big enough, what will satisfy you?"

"Come to think of it," said Linda quietly, "I can get along with what I
have for the short time until the legal settlement of our interests is
due. You needn't bother any more about a cheque."

Eileen was surprised and her face showed it; and she was also relieved.
That too her face showed.

"I always knew," she said lightly, "that I had a little sister with
a remarkably level head and good common sense. I am glad that you
recognize the awful inflation of prices during the war period, and how I
have had to skimp and scheme and save in order to make ends meet and to
keep us going on Papa's meager income."

All Linda's good resolutions vanished. She was under strong nervous
tension. It irritated her to have Eileen constantly referring to their
monetary affairs as if they were practically paupers, as if their
father's life had been a financial failure, as if he had not been able
to realize from achievements recognized around the world a comfortable
living for two women.

"Oh, good Lord!" she said shortly. "Bluff the rest of the world like
a professional, Eileen, but why try it with me? You're right about my
having common sense. I'll admit that I am using it now. I will be of
age in a few days, and then we'll take John Gilman and go to the
Consolidated Bank, and if it suits your convenience to be absent for
four or five days at that period, I'll take John Gilman and we'll go
together."

Eileen was amazed. The receding color in her cheeks left the rouge on
them a ghastly, garish thing.

"Well, I won't do anything of the sort," she said hotly, "and neither
will John Gilman."

"Unfortunately for you," answered Linda, "John Gilman i