window one Saturday morning and see Priscilla approaching, her face so lined by worry as to suggest that the heaviest responsibilities r

h a heart-sick concern. "She looks years older than she did six months ago, and I can't make out

htened and she quickened her steps. Peggy hurried to the door, and flung it open with an unreasonable hope that this interview would end the mystery which had baffled her for so long. But the

e matter?

f you would l

possible, but there was no possible doubt of her talent for doing the wrong thing at the right time or else, vice versa, the right thing at the wrong time. Her one redeeming feature was her amiability, but as this frequently took a conversati

fication. "Of course you can have her if you wa

open the door for a c

tooth-ache, and her head is tied up in a red flannel, so unless

uggestive of tragedy that Peggy was more puzzled than ever. "Who is

aving her vacation, and Father and I are taking our meals at the Lindsays. And la

r such circumstances she invariably felt as if a thick curtain had dropped between her friend and herself. "Horace

of course she is quite old and very rich, a

Peggy exclaimed.

e would have said, "How dreadful!" For a call from the young man's great-aunt seemed to imply that the you

isconsolately. "Of course she's used to butlers and ever

necessity for opening the door to his great-aunt would not have impressed her as a tragedy. Priscilla

we think of women who take in washing." Priscilla's feeling of resentment at Peggy was enhanced by her own wonder at herself. The glamor which had surrounded Horace

n't for the red flannel. Just when I want Sally to be on her good behavior

s another thing that puzzles me," exclaimed Priscilla unhappily. "O

always safe and, besides, you look awfully well in tha

y, what do

I've got a black dress and a cute little ruffled apron, and I'm just aching

se Horace should c

expect hi

n to come last evening. But

ll my cap and apron into a bundle and put them under my arm. Then I'll be your friend,

ngly. The Plainness of the blue serge set off the long lines of Priscilla's slender, graceful figure, while the

. I'm afraid she'll suspect som

dining-room when the door-bell rang. Peggy started to her feet,

appear to be eave

Priscilla was experiencing a panic at the thought of being left to the tender mercies of Ho

ered woman, rather elaborately dressed, and she inspected Peggy through her lor

eks had flushed under Mrs. Duncan's inspection. The small, beady eyes in the wrinkled face had a curiously piercing quality

Miss Combs would be down in a few minutes. Then she retired to the adjoining room and began on her dusting. She was not

ller sweetly, though with some constraint. Mrs. Duncan looked her over appro

sped. Priscilla drew hers

as I expected, but much handsomer. I took it for granted Horace would admire some nam

ught much about it,"

. "What's your idea in that? I suppose you know that

, Mrs.

a tangent. "You've got a nice-lo

illa mechanically.

the house. My married life of twenty years was reasonably successful," explained Mrs. Duncan complace

ed to conceal her inhospitable emotion, her visitor i

wondered if ever in her life she had appeared a

because I'm a fool, and sometimes I think it's because he's a fool. I dare say you've felt the same

epeated Pris

hat I would enjoy taking him to-what's the name of th

for the afternoon. As she voiced her stammering refusal, she felt like a criminal on the verge of exposure. For when the bell rang P

riscilla's soul, and acted upon the hint with characteristic promptness. A moment later she appeared in the doorwa

ed to play her pa

et. If you can spare me for a l

" replied Priscilla w

too well-mannered. There's something wrong somewhere. Don't trust her." And Priscilla had to conquer the impression that it was her friend Peggy who

of a normal American girl for a fortune-hunter, and her lover had never appeared to less advantage in her eyes than in his obvious efforts to please his eccentric relative. In her revolt from Horace's methods she went a little too far in the other direction, and her manner as she parted from her guest was frigid rather than friendly. Mrs. Duncan's call was the first indication that Horace's people were awa