I can't stay and talk about it any longer, but this is such a
busy time of day, with supper to get--"

Her hand was on the door-knob, but with sudden vigor Mrs. Manstey
seized her wrist.

"You are not giving me a definite answer. Do you mean to say
that you accept my proposition?"

"Why, I'll think it over, Mrs. Manstey, certainly I will. I
wouldn't annoy you for the world--"

"But the work is to begin to-morrow, I am told," Mrs. Manstey
persisted.

Mrs. Black hesitated. "It shan't begin, I promise you that; I'll
send word to the builder this very night." Mrs. Manstey
tightened her hold.

"You are not deceiving me, are you?" she said.

"No--no," stammered Mrs. Black. "How can you think such a thing
of me, Mrs. Manstey?"

Slowly Mrs. Manstey's clutch relaxed, and she passed through the
open door. "One thousand dollars," she repeated, pausing in the
hall; then she let herself out of the house and hobbled down the
steps, supporting herself on the cast-iron railing.

"My goodness," exclaimed Mrs. Black, shutting and bolting the