es
of a lady's maid. It is a very happy combination for traveling."

"She seems almost too good to be true," mused Olivetta. "She's really
very pretty. I hope Jack hasn't--"

"Olivetta! How can you! Jack has never paid her the slightest
attention, nor she him."

"Pardon me, Caroline! But she's so pretty, and she's just the sort of
girl who attracts men--and--and"--a bit wistfully--"gets engaged and
gets married."

"Nonsense, Olivetta. When she first came to me I asked her if she were
in love or engaged. She said she was not, and I told her my rules. She
is a very sensible girl."

"At any rate, she must be a great relief after that Marie you had."

Mrs. De Peyster flushed, as though at some disagreeable memory.

"Have you learned yet whether Marie was actually a spy for Mrs.
Allistair?" inquired Olivetta.

"She confessed that she was getting money besides the wages I paid
her. That is proof enough."

"I believe it of Mrs. Allistair! She wouldn't stop at anything to win
your place as social leader. But she could never fill it!"

"She will never win it!" Mrs. De Peyster returned with calm
confidence.

At that moment the door from the hallway opened and there entered a
woman of middle age, in respectable dull-hued black, with apron of
black silk and a white cap.

"Ah, Matilda," remarked Mrs. De Peyster. "The servants, are they all
gone yet?"

"The last one, the cook, is just going, ma'am. There's just William
and me left. And the men have already come to board up the windows and
the door."

"You paid the servants board wages as I instructed, and made clear to
them about coming to Newport when I send orders?"

"Yes, ma'am. And they all understand."

"Good," said Mrs. De Peyster. "You have Mr. Jack's trunks packed?"

"All except a few things he may want to put in himself."

"Very well. You may now continue helping Miss Gardner with my things."

But Matilda did not obey. She trembled--blinked her eyes--choked; then
stammered:--

"Please, ma'am, there's--there's something else."

"Something else?" queried Mrs. De Peyster.

"Yes, ma'am. Downstairs there are six or seven young men from the
newspapers. They want--"

"Matilda," interrupted Mrs. De Peyster in stern reproof, "you are well
enough acquainted with my invariable custom regarding reporters to
have acted without referring this matter to me. It is a distinct
annoyance," she added, "that one cannot make a single move without the
newspapers fol