practice."



XVII


Orde's evening was a disappointment to him. Mrs. Bishop had, by
Carroll's report, worked feverishly at the altar cloth all the
afternoon. As a consequence, she had gone to bed with a bad
headache. This state of affairs seemed to throw the entire family
into a state of indecision. It was divided in mind as to what to
do, the absolute inutility of any effort balancing strongly against
a sense of what the invalid expected.

"I wonder if mother wouldn't like just a taste of this beef,"
speculated the general, moving fussily in his chair. "I believe
somebody ought to take some up. She MIGHT want it."

The man departed with the plate, but returned a few moments later,
impassive--but still with the plate.

"Has she got her hot-water bag?" asked the boy unexpectedly.

"Yes, Master Kendrick," replied the butler.

After a preoccupied silence the general again broke out:

"Seems to me somebody ought to be up there with her."