, it doesn't matter, and if they know everything,
uncle must have kept an eye on Mrs. Valentine and will understand."

"I never thought of leaving the whole matter to 'uncle,'" I observed.

"I'm not shifting the responsibility; I'm simply counting on him. I
always counted on him and he always trusted me. If I could get him on
a spiritual long-distance telephone, he would see that I cannot part
an only daughter from her only mother."

"Yes, I've often thought only children were a mistake; they bulk too
heavily in the foreground. Where there are six, each one cannot take
up so much room."

"Exactly. You see we've got to go to her mother's to dinner every
other Sunday when our cook's out. I've learned that much about
matrimony in advance."

"Perhaps you won't be invited!"

"Well, that would be even worse. Besides, she has given up her
apartment and leased a charming house."

"Does she think that you and Dolly are to live with her?"

"If she does she is mistaken, but to do her justice I don't believe
that's her idea at all. However, she is all settled and awaiting
Dorothea. The house is going to be a surprise."

"Dolly will like it; the apartment didn't suit her taste."

"A pompous butler is installed. I discovered all this when I went to
call, and conscientiously told her I was going to St. Thomas with the
Winthrops. He is elderly, of course, as all the middle-aged and young
butlers are in khaki; and wonderful to relate, there is also an aged
but well-preserved footman. He dwells on the lower floor, and
communicates with the butler on the floor above, where the drawing-
and dining-rooms are, by means of a speaking-tube. The moment the
footman approached me with his 'What name, sir?' and bawled 'MR.
HOGG!' through the tube, the butler repeating it resonantly to the
boudoir where Mrs. Valentine was sitting; at that moment I knew why
she had taken the house. It was for the speaking-tubes! I have never
before seen a small house in Washington with these annunciators. The
butler and footman were engaged for the same purpose, that of bawling
'MR. HOGG' whenever I called upon Dolly. After my interview with Mrs.
Valentine, which was placid, for she thanked me coldly for telling her
of my proposed journey and said she should go herself, but imagined
that the steamers were small and uncomfortable, and the food
villainous; however, we would talk the whole matter over in New York
and come to some decision; she then went to