the occasion of that first visit, to find Mrs. Grubb within. There
was, however, a very voluble person next door, who supplied a little
information and asked considerable more. Mrs. Sylvester told Mary
that Mrs. Grubb was at that moment presiding over a meeting of the
Kipling Brothers in Unity Hall, just round the corner.

'They meet Tuesdays and Thursdays at four o'clock,' she said, 'and
you'd find it a real treat if you like to step over there.'

'Thank you, I am rather busy this afternoon,' replied Mary.

'Do you wish to leave any name or message? Did you want a setting?'

'A sitting?' asked Mary vaguely. 'Oh no, thank you; I merely wished
to see Mrs. Grubb--is that the name?'

'That's it, and an awful grievance it is to her--Mrs. S. Cora Grubb.
You have seen it in the newspapers, I suppose; she has a half column
"ad." in the Sunday Observer once a month. Wouldn't you like your
nails attended to? I have a perfectly splendid manicure stopping
with me.'

'No, thank you. I hoped to see Mrs. Grubb, to ask if her children
can come and spend the morning with me to-morrow.'

'Oh, that'll be all right; they're not her children; she doesn't care
where they go; they stay in the back yard or on the sand-lot most of
the time: she's got something more important to occupy her
attention. Say, I hope you'll excuse me, but you look a little pale.
If you were intending to get some mental healing from Mrs. Grubb,