ded, in her tone of imperious impatience. "Well, why don't
you answer? I was brought up to speak when you're spoken to, an' I'm a
great believer in livin' up to your bringin' up--if you had a good one.
What's the difference, an' which costs most? That's what I want to know. I
do wish you'd answer me, Arethusa; there's two things I've asked you now,
an' you suckin' your finger an' puttin' on your thimble as if you were
sittin' alone in China."

"I don't know which costs most," Arethusa shrieked.

"You needn't scream so," said Aunt Mary. "I ain't so hard to hear as you
think. I ain't but seventy, and I'll beg you to remember _that_, Arethusa.
Besides, I don't want to hear you talk. I just want to hear about Jack.
I'm askin' about his bein' expelled and suspended, an' what's the
difference, an' in particular if there's anything to pay for broken glass.
It's always broken glass! That boy's bills for broken glass have been
somethin' just awful these last two years. Well, why don't you answer?"

"I don't know what to answer," Arethusa screamed.

"What do you suppose he's done, anyhow?"

"Something bad."

Aunt Mary frowned.

"I ain't mad," she said sharply. "What made you think I was mad? I ain't
mad at all! I'm just askin' what's the difference between bein' expelled
an' bein' suspended, an' it seems to me this is the third time I've asked
it. Seems to me it is."

Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty breath, very nearly got into
the ear-trumpet, and explained that being suspended was infinitely less
heinous than being expelled, and decidedly less final.

Aunt Mary looked relieved.

"Oh, then he's gettin' better, is he?" she said. "Well, I'm sure that's
some comfort."

And then there was a long pause, during which she appeared to be engaged
in deep reflection, and her niece continued her embroidery in peace. The
pause endured until a sudden sneeze on the part of the old lady set the
wheels of conversation turning again.

"Arethusa," she said, "I wish you'd go an' get the ink an' write to Mr.
Stebbins. I want him to begin to look up another college with good
references right away. I don't want to waste any of the boy's life, an' if
bein' suspended means waitin' while the college takes its time to consider
whether it wants him back again or not I ain't goin' to wait. I'm a great
believer in a college education, but I don't know that it cuts much figure
whether it's the same college right through or not. Anywa