"Then I'll be a fascinating young widow all the sooner."

"Disgusting!" exclaimed Mrs. Carl Walraven. "You are perfectly
heartless, Mollie Dane!"

She swept from the room to dress for her shopping expedition. It was
almost twelve when she was fairly off, and then Mollie summoned her maid
and gave her sundry directions with a very serious face.

"I am going to spend the morning in the blue room, Margaret," she said;
"and I expect four gentlemen to call--Sir Roger Trajenna, Mr. Ingelow,
Doctor Oleander, and Mr. Sardonyx."

"Yes, miss," said Margaret.

"Sir Roger you will show at once into the blue room," pursued the young
lady; "Mr. Ingelow into the library: Doctor Oleander into the
drawing-room, and Mr. Sardonyx into the breakfast-parlor. Do you
understand?"

"Yes, miss," said Margaret.

"Very well, then; that will do. I am going to the blue room now, and
don't you forget my directions, or I shall box your ears."

Miss Dane sailed off. Margaret looked after her with a queer face.

"She'd do it, too! I wonder what all this means? Some piece of mischief,
I'll be bound!"