tood long ago that we had dropped Lois. If she
and Holton got tired of each other, it's their business. I don't imagine
you want me to send for her to come home."

"Amzi!" they gasped.

It seemed that this shuddering exclamation expressed a horror that shook
their very souls. It was incredible that so dark a thought should have
crossed the mind of a man commonly looked upon as sane.

"That would be the limit," cried Mrs. Hastings. "Don't even mention such
a thing--it's too horrible to joke about."

"I wasn't joking. If she's gone to smash with Holton, I thought maybe
you wanted us to bring the prodigal home, and give her veal loaf for
Sunday evening tea. By the way, Kate, don't ever turn me loose on any of
your veal loaf again. The last I had at your house gave me indigestion;
it might have led to apoplexy and killed me."

The fierceness of his frowning caused his scalp to wrinkle clear back to
his fringe of hair. His sisters were vexed by his attempt to relieve the
discussion with humor. It was necessary to sober him, and Mrs. Hastings
thought she could effect the sobering of Amzi.

"Minnie Walters says they have lost their money; the judge saw Jack
Holton, but you know how the judge is; he wouldn't ever speak of it to a
soul."

"Minnie would," said Amzi dryly.

"Minnie only mentioned it in the kindest way," said Mrs. Waterman,
coloring. "You know Minnie doesn't gossip; but as an old friend of our
family she thought we ought to know. I think it was kind of her to tell
us."

"Well, it doesn't seem to have made you girls much happier. What on
earth are you going to do; what do you want me to do?" he demanded,
blowing out his cheeks and glaring.

"We don't want you to do anything, Amzi," said Mrs. Hastings, with that
sweetness with which women of little discernment attempt to blunt the
wrath of man.

It was important to keep Phil in the picture: with Phil dancing before
them Amzi could be held in subjection. Mrs. Waterman hastened to mention
Phil and the responsibility they all felt about her, to justify their
curiosity as to Phil's mother. Amzi blew his nose and readjusted his
spectacles. Mrs. Waterman advanced the battle-line boldly.

"We assume that you have always kept in touch with poor Lois and that
you still hear from her. And we feel that the time has come for you to
treat us more frankly about her. It's for Phil's sake, you know, Amzi."

Amzi could not see how any of the later transactions in the