m. "Leaving his service, why?" Randy demanded.

"He called me a fool this morning. And I am not a fool, sir."

"What made him say that?" Randy asked, with interest.

"He ordered a kidney omelette for breakfast, and I brought it, and he
wouldn't eat it, and blamed me. I am willing to serve any man, but not
without self-respect, sir."

"What are you going to do now, Kemp?" the Major asked.

"Find a better man to work for."

"It won't be hard," Randy interpolated.

"Work for me," said the Major.

Kemp was eager----! "For you, sir?"

"Yes. I need somebody to be legs for me--I'm only half a man. The
place is open for you if you want it."

"I shall want it in a week;" said Kemp; "I shall have to give him
notice."

"There will be three musketeers in the old Schoolhouse, Paine. We have
all seen service."

"It will be the best thing that ever happened to me sir," said Kemp
ecstatically, "to know that I can wait on a fighting man." He swung
down the hall to the telephone as if he marched to the swirl of pipes.

"Isn't Dalton a brute?" said Randy.

"He that calleth his brother a fool----" mused the Major. He was still
turning the mauve hat in his hands. "It is queer," he said
unexpectedly, "how some women make you think of some flowers. Did you
notice everything Miss MacVeigh wore was lilac--and there's the perfume
of it about her things----"

"Becky's a rose," said Randy, "from her own garden. She's as fresh and
sweet," his voice caught. "Oh, hang Dalton," he said, "I hate the
whole tribe of them----"

Kemp came back to say that Oscar Waterman would be down at once. He
insisted that Miss MacVeigh should be brought up to Hamilton Hill.

"He must talk with the doctor."

"He is bringing a doctor of his own. One who came down for Mrs.
Waterman."

Randy picked up his hat. "I'm going home. The same house won't hold
us----"

Kemp was discreet. "Can I help you with your car, sir?"

"I'll come over later and look at it." Randy, escaping by the back
way, walked over the hills.

The Major stayed, and was in the sitting-room with the county doctor
when the others arrived.

Dr. Dabney, the county doctor, was not old. He rode to hounds and he
enjoyed life. But he was none the less a good doctor and a wise one.
Waterman's physician confirmed the diagnosis. It would be very unwise
to move Miss MacVeigh.

"But she can't stay here," said Dalton.

"Why not?"

"She can't be made comfortable."