particular friend, Captain Sykes. It would have just killed you, Jack,"
she said, with a sudden hysteric burst of laughter, "to have seen Josh,
in his square, straight-out way, trying to be civil and help things
along. But," she went on, as suddenly relapsing into her former attitude
of worried appeal, "I couldn't stand it, and when she got to talking
free and easy before Josh, and Captain Sykes to guzzling champagne,
she and me had a row. She allowed I was putting on airs, and I made her
walk, in spite of Josh."

"And Josh seemed to like it," said Hamlin carelessly. "Has he seen her
since?"

"No; I reckon he's cured of asking that kind of company for me. And then
we came here. But I persuaded him not to begin by going round telling
people who I was,--as he did the last time,--but to leave it to folks to
find out if they wanted to, and he gave in. Then he let me fix up this
house and furnish it my own way, and I did!"

"Do you mean to say that YOU fixed up that family vault of a
sitting-room?" said Jack, in horror.

"Yes, I didn't want any fancy furniture or looking-glasses, and such
like, to attract folks, nor anything to look like the old times. I don't
think any of the boys would care to come here. And I got rid of a lot of
sporting travelers, 'wild-cat' managers, and that kind of tramp in this
way. But"--She hesitated, and her face fell again.

"But what?" said Jack.

"I don't think that Josh likes it either. He brought home the other day