, lofty and
superior. 'It is rather dusty, and I think the wheels ought to be
washed. Can that man be trusted to wash 'em?' she asks, pointin' kind of
scornful at Simeon.

"'Yes, marm, I cal'late so,' I says. 'Here, Sim!' I sung out, callin'
Butler over to the steps. 'Can you wash the dust off them wheels?'

"He said course he could, but he didn't act joyful over the job. The
woman seemed some doubtful.

"'He looks like a very ignorant, common person,' says she, loud and
clear, so that everybody, includin' the 'ignorant person' himself, could
hear her. 'However, James'll superintend. James,' she orders the shofer,
'you see that it is well done, won't you? Make him be very careful.'

"James looked Butler over from head to foot. 'Humph!' he sniffs,
contemptuous, with a kind of half grin on his face. 'Yes, marm, I'll
'tend to it.'

"So he steered the auto into the barn, and Simeon got busy. Judgin' by
the sharp language that drifted out through the door, 'twas plain that
the shofer was superintendin' all right.

"Jonadab heaves in sight, bowin', and makes proclamation that dinner
is served. The pair riz up majestic and headed for the dinin' room. The
woman was a little astern of her man, and in the hall she turns brisk to
me.

"'Mr. Wingate,' she whispers, 'Mr. Wingate.'

"I stared at her. Her voice had sounded sort of familiar ever sence I
heard it, but the veil kept a body from seein' what she looked like.

"'Hey?' I sings out. 'Have I ever--'

"'S-s-h-h!' she whispers. 'Say, Mr. Wingate, that--that Susannah thing
is here, ain't she? Have her wait on us, will you, please?'

"And she swept the veil off her face. I choked up and staggered bang!
against the wall. I swan to man if it wa'n't Effie! EFFIE, in silks and
automobiles and gorgeousness!

"Afore I could come to myself the two of 'em marched into that dining
room. I heard a grunt and a 'Land of love!' from just ahead of me. That
was Jonadab. And from all around that dinin' room come a sort of gasp
and then the sound of whisperin'. That was the help.

"They took a table by the window, which had been made ready. Down they
set like a king and a queen perchin' on thrones. One of the waiter girls
went over to em.

"But I'd come out of my trance a little mite. The situation was miles
ahead of my brain, goodness knows, but the joke of it all was gettin' a
grip on me. I remembered what Effie had asked and I spoke up prompt.

"'Susannah,' says I, 'this is a