to be vaguely uncomfortable whenever he saw his father put his pipe in his pocket and go across the street. And as the winter brightened into spring, the Captain went quite often. So, for that matter, did other old friends of Mrs. North’s generation, who by-and-by began to smile at one another, and say, “Well, Alfred and Letty are great friends!” For, because Captain Price lived right across the street, he went most of all. At least, that was what Miss North said to herself with obvious common-sense—until Mrs. Cyrus put her on the right track....

[Page 42]

“What!” gasped Mary North. “But it’s impossible!”

“It would be very unbecoming, considering their years,” said Gussie; “but I worry so, because, you know, nothing[Page 43] is impossible when people are foolish; and of course, at their age, they are apt to be foolish.”

[Page 43]

So the seed was dropped. Certainly he did come very often. Certainly her mother seemed very glad to see him. Certainly they had very long talks. Mary North shivered with apprehension. But it was not until a week later that this miserable suspicion grew strong enough to find words. It was after tea, and the two ladies were sitting before a little fire. Mary North had wrapped a shawl about her mother, and given her a footstool, and pushed her chair nearer the fire, and then pulled it away, and opened and shut the parlor door three times to regulate the draught. Then she sat down in the corner of the sofa, exhausted but alert.

“If there’s anything you want, mother, you’ll be sure and tell me?”

[Page 44]“Yes, my dear.”

[Page 44]

“I think I’d better put another shawl over your limbs?”

“Oh no, indeed!”

“Mother, are you sure you don’t feel a draught?”

“No, Mary; and it wouldn’t hurt me if I did!”

“I was only trying to make you comfortable—”

“I know that, my dear; you are a very good daughter. Mary, I think it would be nice if I made a cake. So many people call, and—”

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