club. But now, with the children married and new families coming
along, we were more concerned with dairies than with clubs, and I
inquired more carefully about the neighborhood cows than about the
neighborhood golf-links. I had really selected the house at Benton
Station because there was a most alluring pasture, with a brook
running through it, and violets over the banks. It seemed to me
that no cow with a conscience could live in those surroundings and
give colicky milk.

Then, the house was cheap. Unbelievably cheap. I suspected
sewerage at once, but it seemed to be in the best possible order.
Indeed, new plumbing had been put in, and extra bathrooms installed.
As old Miss Emily Benton lived there alone, with only an old couple
to look after her, it looked odd to see three bathrooms, two of
them new, on the second floor. Big tubs and showers, although
little old Miss Emily could have bathed in the washbowl and have
had room to spare.

I faced the agent downstairs in the parlor, after I had gone over
the house. Miss Emily Benton had not appeared and I took it she
was away.

"Why all those bathrooms?" I demanded. "Does she use them in
rotation?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"She wished to rent the house, Miss Blakiston. The old-fashioned
plumbing--"