"Caroline is going from a sense of duty, you may be sure. And what
would my boarders do while I was skylarking in California?" her niece
demanded. This was a mild joke, for the boarders had not as yet
materialized.

"I wish you would give up that idea, Aunt Sarah," growled Wayland.

"You agree with Mrs. Millard, I suppose. She thinks it involves the
whole Terrace in a downward step. But what am I to do? Caroline
assured me she could secure the position of matron at the Children's
Home for me, but what would you and Aunt Sally do then, poor things?"

"Oh, it is easy to laugh--" began Wayland.

"Is it? Then I wish you would favor us sometimes, my dear nephew."

"I was going to say," continued Wayland, with dignity, "that it was
easy to make fun of Mrs. Millard, but she is my idea of an elegant
woman."

"Far be it from me to deny Caroline's elegance. I am often proud to
know her. I believe there could be no emergency great enough to make
her say 'hello!' over the telephone, and I saw her on one occasion put
up her lorgnette when she answered a call."

"Now, Sarah," said Mrs. Leigh, laughing.

The two ladies talked on about neighborhood affairs, but Wayland paid
little heed, being absorbed in his own thoughts. He was in an
impatient and critical mood. What he considered his aunt's oddity
annoyed him. He wished she would dress like other people,--meaning
Mrs. Millard. He was twenty years old, and was working in a bank for
fifty dollars a month, with small chance of promotion. He had wished
to go to college,--not so much, however, as his aunt had wished it for
him,--but now this was overshadowed by the ambition to be rich. And
all for Madelaine. Sometimes he fiercely resolved that he _would_ be
rich; and again he lost heart at the thought that lovely, dainty
Madelaine was certain to find another palace long before his was
built. Her frank worldliness did not weaken his adoration, strange to
say.

CHAPTER FIFTEENTH

GIANT DESPAIR

"Miss Norah, I am afraid Miss Marion is falling back." Susanna stood
in the doorway, a tea towel in one hand, a cup in the other.

Norah, who was putting in order certain shelves before the day's work
began, asked, "Why do you think so, Susanna?"

"Well, Miss Norah, I caught her walking around the house with her eyes
shut, feeling her way like she was trying to get used to it." Susanna
advanced and spoke in a whisper, "And she hasn't had a smile for
anybody this last day o