than a woman's boudoir. Books lined the walls. The furniture was strong
and plain. At the window, on a swivel-chair before a roll-top desk,
Mrs. Porter sat writing, her back to the door.
'The gentleman, ma'am,' announced the maid.
'Sit down,' said his aunt, without looking round or ceasing to write.
The maid went out. Bailey sat down. The gentle squeak of the quill pen
continued.
Bailey coughed.
'I have called this morning......'
The left hand of the writer rose and waggled itself irritably above her
left shoulder.
'Aunt Lora,' spoke Bailey sternly.
'Shish!' said the authoress. Only that and nothing more. Bailey,
outraged, relapsed into silence. The pen squeaked on.
After what seemed to Bailey a considerable time, the writing ceased. It
was succeeded by the sound of paper vigorously blotted. Then, with
startling suddenness, Mrs. Porter whirled round on the swivel-chair,
tilted it back, and faced him.
'Well, Bailey?' she said.
She looked at Bailey. Bailey looked at her. Her eyes had the curious
effect of driving out of his head what he had intended to say.
'Well?' she said again.
He tried to remember the excellent opening speech which he had prepared
in the cab.
'Good gracious, Bailey!' cried Mrs. Porter, 'you have not come here and
ruined my morning's work for the pleasure of looking at me surely? Say
something.'
Bailey found his voice.
'I have called to see Ruth, who, I am informed, is with you.'
'She is in her room. I made her breakfast in bed. Is there any message
I can give her?'
Bailey suddenly remembered the speech he had framed in the cab.
'Aunt Lora,' he said, 'I am sorry to have to intrude upon you at so
early an hour, but it is imperative that I see Ruth and ask her to
explain the meaning of a most disturbing piece of news that has come to
my ears.'
Mrs. Porter did not appear to have heard him.
'A man of your height should weigh more,' she said. 'What is your
weight?'
'My weight; beside the point......'
'Your weight is under a hundred and forty pounds, and it ought to be
over a hundred and sixty. Eat more. Avoid alcohol. Keep regular hours.'
'Aunt Lora!'
'Well?'
'I wish to see my sister.'
'You will have to wait. What did you wish to see her about?'
'That is a matter that concerns......No! I will tell you, for I believe
you to be responsible for the whole affair.'
'Well?'
'Last night, quite by chance, I found out that Ruth has for some time
