window, dizzily conscious of the shifting
landscape, dimly aware of her retreat....

Miss Susan McCallum looked up from her rocking chair as Mary Louise
entered the sitting room. There was no surprise in her greeting, and
she suffered her cheek to be kissed in silence. Old Landy stuck his
grizzled head in at the door at the unusual commotion and Mary
Louise, unaccountably and suddenly touched by something subtly
familiar and friendly, trilled:

"I've come to look after you, Aunt Susie. Just couldn't stay away any
longer. The countryside was perfectly beautiful as I came up this
morning in the train. It's the loveliest October I've ever seen. Think
of being cooped up in the city this time of year."

Landy grinned and came shambling in with a greeting. Miss Susie's
eyebrows went up and there was a suspicion of moisture on the lashes.
"Well, you needn't have done it. Landy and I have been managing very
well. But _you_ look a little peaked." She turned and laid her
knitting on the table by her side.

"Little Missy's a sight fo' so' eyes," interjected Landy and then
withdrew. Directly they could hear him authoritatively ordering
someone about.

Miss Susie sighed and looked at Mary Louise. The latter was taking off
her hat but she caught a hidden appeal in the pinched, weazened face
that she had never before noticed. It made a sharp little tug at her
heart, and throwing her hat on the table, she came over and sat on the
stool at the older woman's feet.

"How long will you be with us this time?"

She reached up and took the hand and was startled at finding how hot
it was. "Why--for all the time. Didn't you understand? I'm not going
back at all."

A strange expression came over Miss Susie's face. It was as though she
all of a sudden let down. She stared into Mary Louise's eyes and the
latter waited for some characteristic outburst. But none came.
Directly the old lady reached over for her knitting again and busied
herself with it, bending her head over it. Mary Louise, watching her,
saw her throat contract, saw her moisten her lips softly with the tip
of her tongue.

Without, looking up, "What about your business? You're not leaving it
for someone else to look after for you?" The tone was very low and the
voice so husky that she finished the sentence with a little clearing
of the throat.

"I've given it up--given it up entirely. Not a thing in the world to
keep me," replied Mary Louise.

For a few moments compl