were both done by my relatives, the Palmers. However, there are
others to follow, I'm afraid. I was wondering--I hoped maybe
you'd be coming to some of them. Aren't you?"

"I rather doubt it," Alice said, slowly. "Mildred's dance was
almost the only evening I've gone out since my father's illness
began. He seemed better that day; so I went. He was better the
other day when he wanted those cigars. He's very much up and
down." She paused. "I'd almost forgotten that Mildred is your
cousin."

"Not a very near one," he explained. "Mr. Palmer's father was
my great-uncle."

"Still, of course you are related."

"Yes; that distantly."

Alice said placidly, "It's quite an advantage."

He agreed. "Yes. It is."

"No," she said, in the same placid tone. "I mean for Mildred."

"I don't see----"

She laughed. "No. You wouldn't. I mean it's an advantage over
the rest of us who might like to compete for some of your time;
and the worst of it is we can't accuse her of being unfair about
it. We can't prove she showed any trickiness in having you for a