l glancing up, her sharp features softened, and she smiled up into
the child's happy face.

"So Hazel's found ye, has she, Mr. Geoffrey. An' talkin' o' her, you've
sure made the Bowkers a happy fam'ly. But, my land, Mr. Ravenslee, the
scand'lous prices as th' tradespeople has been allowed t' charge you
these last six months! Here's th' butcher--listen t' this--"

"Heaven forbid, Mrs. Trapes! Rather let that butcher listen to you,
miserable wretch!"

"An' there's the milkman--that milkman's cows ought t' blush at th'
sound o' your name! Here's his accounts for the last six months, an' I've
found--"

"Have you, Mrs. Trapes? We're trying to find Hermione--where is she?"

"Oh, she's in her room--laying down, I guess."

"Not," enquired Ravenslee, "not--er--in bed, is she?"

"Mr. Geoffrey, I don't know; I'm busy. Go an' see for yourself--she's
your wife, ain't she?"

"Why, since you ask, I--er--hardly know," he answered a little ruefully,
"anyway, found she shall be."

With the child perched upon his shoulder he strode up-stairs and along
wide corridors whose deep carpets gave forth no sound, and so reached a
certain door. Here he hesitated a moment, then knocked with imperious
hand.

"Come in!" called that voice whose soft inflection had always thrilled
him, but never as it did now as, turning the handle, he entered his
wife's chamber.

Hermione was standing before a long mirror, and she neither turned nor
looked from the radiant vision it reflected; her eyes, her attention,
all the feminine soul of her being just then fixed and centered upon the
tea gown she was trying on; such a garment as she had gloated over in
the store windows, yearned for, but never thought to possess.

"Ann," she sighed, "oh, Ann, isn't it exquisite! Isn't it a perfect
dream! Of course it needs a wee bit of alteration here and there, but
I can do that. Isn't it good of him to have bought it without saying a
word! And there are heaps of dresses and robes and--and everything! A
complete trousseau, Ann, dear--think of it! I wonder how he knew my
size--"

"Oh, I just guessed it, my dear," answered Ravenslee in the voice of a
much experienced husband.

Hermione gasped, and turning, stared at him wide-eyed, seeing only him,
conscious only of him. Lifting Hazel to the floor, he seated himself
upon her bed and, crossing his legs, eyed her flushed loveliness with a
matter-of-fact air. "Really," he continued, "I don't see that it needs
any a