"Heavens, I'm your reconcentrado! Major, I feel as if I'd been shut up
down cellar in the cold without the breath of life for a year. It's only
three days and thirteen hours and a half; but I'm all in. I go dead
without her--believe I'll telephone her now!" And David reached for
the receiver that stood on the major's table.

"Now, David," said the major, restraining his eager hand and smiling
through his sadness, "don't try to gather your grapes over the phone! I
judge they are ripe, but they still hang high--they always will! Look at
the clock!"

David took one look at the staid old mahogany timepiece, which the major
had had brought in from Seven Oaks and placed in the corner opposite his
table, and took his departure.

And after he had gone the major retired to his room to lie down for as
much of his allotted rest as he could obtain. Seeing him safely settled,
Mrs. Buchanan went over for a short visit with Mrs. Shelby next door.
Mrs. Matilda stuck to the irate grandmother through thick and thin and in
her affectionate heart she had hopes of bringing about the much to be
desired reconciliation. She was the only person in the city who dared
mention Milly or the babies to the old lady and even in her
unsophistication she suspected that the details she supplied with
determined intrepidity fed a hunger in the lonely old heart. Her
pilgrimage next door was a daily one and never neglected.

Thus left alone Caroline Darrah was partaking of a solitary cup of tea,
which was being served her by Tempie in all the gorgeousness of a new
white lace-trimmed and beruffled apron which Caroline had made for her