prospective guest. Julia Pendergast was a good woman. At least she often
said that she was, adding, at the same time, that she never knowingly
refused to do her duty. She said the same thing now to her husband, and
she immediately made some very elaborate and very apparent changes in
her home and in her plans, all with an eye to the expected guest. At
four o'clock Wednesday afternoon Edgar met his sister at the station.

"Well, I don't see as you've changed much," he said kindly.

"Haven't I? Why, seems as if I must look changed a lot," chirruped Jane.
"I'm so rested, and Fred and Sally were so good to me! Why, they tried
not to have me do a thing--and I didn't do much, only a little puttering
around just to help out with the work."

"Hm-m," murmured Edgar. "Well, I'm glad to see you're--rested."

Julia met them in the hall of the beautiful Brookline residence. Lined
up with her were the four younger children, who lived at home. They made
an imposing array, and Jane was visibly affected.

"Oh, it's so good of you--to meet me--like this!" she faltered.

"Why, we wished to, I'm sure," returned Mrs. Pendergast, with a half-
stifled sigh. "I hope I understand my duty to my guest and my sister-in-
law sufficiently to know what is her due. I did not allow anything--not
even my committee meeting to-day--to interfere with this call for duty
at home."

Jane fell back. All the glow fled from her face.