believed their brother capable of
such a thing. They exchanged glances that telegraphed the horror of this
depravity. If it had been any one else on earth! And the brazenness of
it! Hastings and Fosdick grinned at each other, as much as to say that
after all you never can tell. It was a pleasant discovery that their
brother-in-law was only human. The cheek of the thing was stupendous;
his indifference to the fine scorn of their impeccable wives was superb.
Hereafter those ladies would be more tolerant of weak and erring man.

Amzi rocked himself on his heels, ignoring them. He had wondered why
Lois did not add herself to the family circle. He, too, had heard her
quick steps on the floor above, and had grown impatient at her long
delay; but that was part of the joke of it all: Lois would take her time
and appear when it suited her convenience. Not for gold, not for much
fine gold would he have preluded her approach with any warning. And
their ready assumption that they had caught him in an act of impropriety
tickled him tremendously. They were all listening now; and there was
undeniably something really naughty and devilish in the patter of those
French heels!

A door above closed with a bang. The shameless creature was tripping
downstairs as gayly as though the house belonged to her. The ease of her
descent spoke for youth; it was in three minds that old fools are always
more susceptible to the wiles of young adventuresses. The sisters
averted their faces from the contaminating sight. Amzi was crossing the
room and reached the open door as it framed his sister. He had a fine,
instinctive sense of courtesy and even his pudgy figure could not
diminish his dignity. He took Lois by the hand and led her to the broad
hearth as though the fireplace symbolized the domestic altar, and he was
restoring her to its protection.

"This is Lois," he said simply, as she swung round; and as they stared
dully he repeated, "This is Lois."

Mrs. Fosdick was nearest, and Mrs. Holton put out her hand to her.

"Well, Fanny!" she said; and then, sweeping them all with her smile,
"Merry Christmas!"

Her clasp of Mrs. Fosdick's hand seemed to bring them all to their feet,
and she moved quickly from one to the other, with some commonplace of
greeting, and a bright smile for each. Clasping the hands of Kate and
Josephine together she looked from one to the other and said in her
pleasant voice,--

"How like old times it seems; and how nice