"Certainly, my dear madam; they shall be sent at once. To your
apartment, I suppose. Is there anything else?"

"Yes; you might bring them yourself. Did you know that mother has been
ordered off to Bermuda at once? The doctor says she's dreadfully run
down. She won't let me go with her. She wants me to do a lot of things;
and then in three weeks we all go South. Mother's doctor says she
mustn't wait. Isn't it a bore? And Tante Lydia is coming to-day to
chaperon me. Did you get my invitation?"

Gard's heart sank. "Dear me! That's bad news. How long will your mother
be gone?"

"Oh, just the voyage and straight home again. But do come in this
afternoon and have tea; perhaps you could persuade her to stay a week
there--she won't obey me."

"They are very insubordinate in the Old Ladies' Home. I'll drop in this
afternoon. Good-by, my dear."

He hung up the receiver and glowered. "Not well! Mrs. Marteen in the
doctor's care!" He could not associate her perfection with illness of
any kind. It gave him a distinct pang, and for the first time a feeling
of protective tenderness. This instantly translated itself into a lavish
order of violets, and a mental note to see that, her stateroom was made
beautiful for her voyage.

Adding his signature to the pile of letters that Saunders handed him
served to pass the moments till he could officially declare himself free