``I can't go,'' said Mildred. ``I'm dining with the
Fassetts.''

The family no longer had a servant in constant
attendance in the dining-room. The maid of many functions
also acted as butler and as fetch-and-carry between
kitchen and butler's pantry. Before speaking,
Presbury waited until this maid had withdrawn to bring
the roast and the vegetables. Then he said:

``You are going, too, miss.'' This with the full
infusion of insult into the ``miss.''

Mildred was silent.

``Bill Siddall is looking for a wife,'' proceeded
Presbury. ``And he has Heaven knows how many
millions.''

``Do you think there's a chance for Milly?'' cried
Mrs. Presbury, who was full of alternating hopes and
fears, both wholly irrational.

``She can have him--if she wants him,'' replied
Presbury. ``But it's only fair to warn her that he's a
stiff dose.''

``Is the money--CERTAIN?'' inquired Mildred's
mother with that shrewdness whose rare occasional