never been afraid, and Mary has never been lonely in her life. And I
love it so, my little Harmony House! Oh, Miss Gibbie, you have been so
good, so precious good!" The strong young arms reached down, and on
her warm breast she drew the anxious face of the older woman, kissed it
swiftly, then pushed her back against the cushions. "If only you would
let me tell how good you've been!"

"If only you would behave yourself and get me some tea I would think
more of you. There are many things I might forgive, but never the
telling of my private affairs. Where is that list of City Fathers? Here,
get me another chair. One feels like a kitty puss on a feather-bed in a
thing of this kind. I prefer to sit like a human being."

With an effort she extricated herself from the depths of the big
chintz-covered chair and took a tall straight one near the table on
which Hedwig was placing iced tea and sandwiches, and as she reached for
the tea with her right hand, she held out her left for the paper Mary
Cary was bringing to her.

She glanced down its length, and for some moments drank her tea in
silence save for an occasional grunt which was half sniff, half snort;
then as she put down her glass and took up a sandwich she waved the
paper in good-natured derision.

"And that's what governs us--that!

"Oh, august body of assembled men,
The gods in thee have come to earth again!"

She bit into the sandwich and again skimmed the paper. "These are the