Barry appeared at Mrs. Carew's house a little after midnight to find
the card-players enjoying a successful supper, and the one topic of
conversation the possible sale of Holly Hall. Barry, suspected of
having news of it, was warmly welcomed by the tired, bright-eyed
women and the men in their somewhat rumpled evening clothes, and
supplied with salad and coffee.

"Is she really coming, Barry?" demanded Mrs. Lloyd eagerly. "And how
soon? We have been saying what WONDERS could be done for the Hall
with a little money."

"The price didn't seem to worry her," said George Carew.

"Oh, she's coming," Barry assured them; "you can consider it
settled."

"Good!" said old Mrs. Apostleman in her deep, emphatic voice.
"She'll have to make the house over, of course; but the stable ought
to make a very decent garage. Mark my words, me dears, ye'll see
some very startling changes up there, before the summer's out."

"The house could be made colonial," submitted Mrs. Adams, "or
mission, for that matter."

"No, you couldn't make it mission," Mrs. Willard White decided, and
several voices murmured, "No, you couldn't do that." "But colonial--
it would be charming," the authority went on. "Personally, I'd tear
the whole thing down and rebuild," said Mrs. White further; "but
with hardwood floors throughout, tapestry papers, or the new grass