out of the side of my bed, but the
girls still slept on. I watched Mart, for
I guessed I might now see what, perhaps,
is the distinguishing trait of American
civilization down to its bed-rock, as you
find it through the West and in the Southern
hills--a chivalrous respect for women.
Mart thought I was asleep. Over in the
corner were two creatures the like of which
I supposed he had never seen and would
not see, since he came in too late the night
before, and was going away too early now
--and two angels straight from heaven
could not have stirred my curiosity any
more than they already must have stirred
his. But not once did Mart turn his eyes,
much less his face, toward the corner where
they were--not once, for I watched him
closely. And when he went out he sent
his little sister back for his shoes, which
the night-walking hired man had
accidentally kicked toward the foot of the
strangers' bed. In a minute I was out
after him, but he was gone. Behind me
the two girls opened their eyes on a room
that was empty save for them. Then the
Blight spoke (this I was told later).

``Dear,'' she said, ``have our room-
mates gone?''