n sweeping waves with scarcely any artificial work
upon it. Her dress was extremely tasteful and very expensive. There
was no simper on her lips, nothing superficial. She was only a tired,
homesick girl. As Linda looked at her she understood why Katy had cried
over her. She felt tears beginning to rise in her own heart. She put
both arms protectingly around Eileen.

"Why, you poor little thing," she said wonderingly, "was it so damn' bad
as all that?"

Eileen stood straight. She held herself rigidly. She merely nodded. Then
after a second she said: "Worse than anything you could imagine, Linda.
Being rich with people who have grown rich by accident is a dreadful
experience."

"So I have always imagined," said Linda. And then in her usual downright
way she asked: "Why did you come, Eileen? Is there anything you wanted
of me?"

Eileen hesitated. It was not in Linda's heart to be mean.

"Homesick, little sister?" she asked lightly "Do you want to come here
while you're getting ready to make a home for John? Is that it?"

Then Eileen swayed forward suddenly, buried her face in Linda's breast,
and for the first time in her life Linda saw and heard her cry, not from
selfishness, not from anger, not from greed, but as an ordinary human
being cries when the heart is so full that nature relieves itself with
tears. Linda closed her arms around her and smiled over her head at John
Gilman.

"Finish all of it before you stop," she advised. "It's all right. You
come straight home. You didn't leave me any word, and I didn't know what
to do with your things, but I couldn't feel that you would want to give
up such beautiful things that you had so enjoyed. We had planned for
Marian to spend her summer vacation here so I put her things in your
suite and I had moved mine into the guest room, but I have had my room
done over and the guest room things are in there, and every scrap of
yours is carefully put away. If that will do, you are perfectly welcome
to it."

Eileen wiped her eyes.

"Anything," she sobbed. "I'd rather have Katy's room than be shamed and
humiliated and hurt any further. Linda, I would almost like you to
know my Aunt Callie, because you will never understand about her if you
don't. Her favorite pastime was to tell everyone we met how much the
things I wore cost her."

Linda released Eileen with a slight shake.

"Cheer up!" she said. "We'll all have a gorgeous time together. I
haven't the slightest ambition t