emotions.

Dinner had been over about two hours, and Mrs. Jimmie was beginning to
look at the clock, when Aubrey approached and whispered:

"I haven't heard a sound in the kitchen since dinner, and Mary hasn't
entered the dining-room. Don't you think we would better take a look
at her?"

The kitchen was separated from the dining-room by only the butler's
pantry. As we opened the swinging door, a figure holding a
chafing-dish in both hands attempted to rise from the cracker-box, but
sank back again, shaking with laughter.

"It's me, Boss dear! Don't look so scared, but I'm drunk as a fool.
How many of them awful peaches did you eat, Missis?"

"Only one," I said.

"And you, Boss?"

"Only one. How many did you eat?"

"Only half a one, but I finished all the juice in the dish--"

"Juice!" I cried. "Why, Mary, that was brandy and kirschwasser, and
two or three other things."

"Don't I know it? But I never thought, Missis dear, I came here to
rubber at that fight between Miss Farquhar and the little blister--"

"Mary!"

"Not a word more, Missis dear, if you don't like it! But anyhow I came
here to--rest myself, and I began absent-mindedly to take a sip out of
this big spoon here, and soon it was all gone. Then when you all went
into the other room, I tried to get up, but my legs didn't want to,
and, be the powers, they haven't wanted to since, though I've tried 'em
every two minutes or so. I've just set here, helpless as a new-born
babe that can't roll over in its crib. I meant to flag the first one
of you that went past the door, for if somebody would prop me up in
front of the sink, I could begin on a pile of dishes there big enough
to scare a dog from his cats."

Aubrey and I leaned against each other in silent but hysterical
delight. Mary was deeply pleased to see us so diverted.

Her legs recovered sufficiently before we left for her to walk to the
sink, while we went back to our guests.

Every one was leaving, and Artie was taking Cary home. I looked to see
how Flora took it, but her appealing blue eyes were fixed in their most
appealing way upon the Also Ran, who was plainly undergoing thrills of
exquisite torture therefrom. Jimmie gave one look at the tableau, and
turned toward the door with his tongue in his cheek.

After that curious evening, there seemed to be a tremendous emotional
upheaval. Artie hardly came near Flora, and when he did call, appeared
to derive much satisfactio