some of his good humor, "but--isn't it usually a foot that rocks
the cradle?"

Aunt Selina turned on him and Mr. Harbison, who were standing
together, with a snort.

"What have you, or YOU, ever done for the independence of woman?"
she demanded.

Mr. Harbison smiled. He had been looking rather grave until then.
"We have at least remained unmarried," he retorted. And then
dinner was again announced.

He was to take me out, and he came across the room to where I sat
collapsed in a chair, and bent over me.

"Do you know," he said, looking down at me with his clear,
disconcerting gaze, "do you know that I have just grasped the
situation? There was such a noise that I did not hear your name,
and I am only realizing now that you are my hostess! I don't know
why I got the impression that this was a bachelor establishment,
but I did. Odd, wasn't it?"

I positively couldn't look away from him. My features seemed
frozen, and my eyes were glued to his. As for telling him the
truth--well, my tongue refused to move. I intended to tell him
during dinner if I had an opportunity; I honestly did. But the
more I looked at him and saw how candid his eyes were, and how
stern his mouth might be, the more I shivered at the plunge. And,
of course, as everybody knows now, I didn't tell him at all. And