never thought of Aunt Hannah as being young,
and a bride. Still, of course she must have been
--once. And the reason she gave for not coming
there to live--the pitiful story of that outsider
in her home! But she was no outsider! She was
no interfering brother of Billy's--

William caught his breath suddenly, and held
it suspended. Then he gave a low ejaculation
and half sprang from his chair.

Spunkie, disturbed from her doze by the fire,
uttered a purring ``me-o-ow,'' and looked up inquiringly.

For a long minute William gazed dumbly into
the cat's yellow, sleepily contented eyes; then he
said with tragic distinctness:

``Spunkie, it's true: Aunt Hannah isn't Billy's
husband's brother, but--I am! Do you hear?
I _am!_''

``Pur-r-me-ow!'' commented Spunkie; and
curled herself for another nap.

There was no peace for William after that. In
vain he told himself that he was no ``interfering''
brother, and that this was his home and
had been all his life; in vain did he declare
emphatically that he could not go, he would not go;