away next week.

The Gay Lady and I managed luncheon with very little exertion, we had so
much assistance. Dinner cost us rather more trouble, for Cook's dinners
are always delicious, and we could not have a falling off under our
régime. But it was a great success, and our men praised us until we felt
our labours fully repaid. Still, we were a trifle fatigued at the end of
the day. Cook had needed a good deal of waiting upon, and though the Gay
Lady had insisted on sharing this service with me it had required many
steps and the exercise of some tact--Cook having been fully persuaded
all day that her end was near.

"I have told her six times that people don't die of lumbago," said the
Gay Lady, "but her tears flow just as copiously as ever. I've written
three letters to her friends for her. To-morrow I suppose I shall have
to write her last will and testament."

* * * * *

But on the morrow Cook was enough better to be able to indite her own
documents, though as yet unable to come downstairs. It was well that she
did not require much of our time, however, for just before noon a party
of touring motorists drove up to our door and precipitated themselves
upon us with warm greetings--and hungry looks toward our dining-room.

"Smoke and ashes!" cried the Skeptic, under his breath, appearing in the
kitchen, whither the Gay Lady and I had betaken ourselves as soon as we
had furnished our guests with soap and water and clothes-brushes, and
left them to remove as much of the dust of the road from their persons
as could be done without a full bath--"why didn't you send them on to