was after poor George was born, but I had a very high color, and I
always dressed very elegantly. And I had a good figure, your
father's two hands could meet around my waist. Anyway, then Papa--
dear me, how it all comes back!--Papa says, fairly shouting, 'Well,
why can't I have that suite?' 'Oh, sir,' the landlord says, 'a Mr.
George Lancaster has engaged that for his wife, and they say that
he's a man who WILL get what he pays for--'" Another mild laugh
interrupted the narrative.

"Didn't you nearly DIE, Ma?"

"Well, my dear! If you could have seen the man's face when Papa--and
how well he did this sort of thing, deary me!--whips out a card--"

They all laughed merrily. Then Mrs. Lancaster sighed.

"Poor Papa, I don't know what he would have done if he could have
seen us to-day," she said. "It's just as well we couldn't see ahead,
after all!"

"Gee, but I'd like to see what's coming," Susan said thoughtfully.

"Bed is coming next!" Mary Lou said, putting her arm about the girl.
Upstairs they all filed sleepily, lowering the hall gases as they
went. Susan yawningly kissed her aunt and Virginia good-night, on
the second floor, where they had a dark and rather colorless room
together. She and the other girls went on up to the third-story
room, where they spent nearly another hour in dilatory undressing.
Susan hesitated again over the thought of a hot bath, decided
against it, decided against even the usual brushing of her hair to-