"Good dissemblers, both of you," and Elliott settled himself in
an easy chair, "but you don't fool your old friend. Talk about
thought-transference--it doesn't take much of that commodity to
read that you two were interrupted by my entrance in the middle
of a real, honest-to-goodness, cats'-and-dogs' quarrel."

"All right, have it your own way," and Embury laughed shortly;
"but it wasn't the middle of it, it was about over."

"All but the making up! Shall I fade away for fifteen minutes?"

"No," protested Eunice. "It was only one of the little tiffs
that happen in the best families! Now, listen, Mason--"

"My dear lady, I live but on the chance of being permitted to
listen to you--only in the hope that I may listen early and
often--"

"Oh, hush! What a silly you are!"

"Silly, is it? Remember I was your childhood playmate. Would
you have kept me on your string all these years if I were silly?
And here's another of my childhood friends! How do you do, most
gracious lady?"

With courtly deference Elliott rose to greet Aunt Abby, who came
into the living-room from Eunice's bedroom.

Her black silk rustled and her old point lace fell yellowly round