Jim saw her first. He went quite white and struggled to get up,
smiling a sickly smile. Bella, after her first surprise, was
superbly indifferent. She glanced at us, raised her eyebrows, and
then looked at the clock.

"More victims of insomnia!" she said. "Won't you come in? Jim,
pull up a chair by the fire for your aunt."

Aunt Selina opened her mouth twice, like a fish, before she could
speak. Then--

"James, I demand that that woman leave the house!" she said
hoarsely.

Bella leaned back and yawned.

"James, shall I go?" she asked amiably.

"Nonsense," Jim said, pulling himself together as best he could.
"Look here, Aunt Selina, you know she can't go out, and what's
more, I--don't want her to go."

"You--what?" Aunt Selina screeched, taking a step forward. "You
have the audacity to say such a thing to me!"

Bella leaned over and gave the fire log a punch.

"I was just saying that he shouldn't say such things to me,
either," she remarked pleasantly. "I'm afraid you'll take cold,
Miss Caruthers. Wouldn't you like a hot sherry flip?"