ven the smallest
additional burden on his shoulders on Monday. And Miles Morgan just
arrived from Ireland!

And Francis talking to him in the library, in that distant, watchful,
uncompromising way of his, that was just as likely as not to send the
young man off in a huff.

"One needn't insult a man just because he's rich and a relative!" Miss
Madigan's exclamation was uttered aloud unconsciously, so excited was
she. It ended with a gasp, as Sissy collided with her on the way from
peeking through the half-open library door at her father and his guest.

It was the bedroom, Kate's and Irene's, that Sissy was bound for; for
there, in solemn conclave, the junior Madigans were assembled, waiting
for their scout's report.

"He's big--but not so big as the Avalanche," she began the moment she
had shut the door behind her and faced the questioning eyes that
commanded her to stand and deliver. "He's straight, too, but not so
poker-stiff as Mrs. Ramrod. He's got a big haw-haw voice, and scrubs
every word he says with a tooth-brush before he says it. His hands are
as white--as white; and they're cleaner than Crosby Pemberton's. He's
got a tan shirt on, plaited in front, and every time Aunt Anne moves
he's up like a jumping-jack till she gets sat down again. He says 'My
word!' and 'in the States'--like that. He's got a mustache the color of
your hair, Split, a scrubby, stiffy little mustache. His eyes are little
twinkling things, and I believe--" she paused in her indictment to give
the criminal the benefit of the doubt--"I do believe he had gloves on
when he first came! I won't be sure; but, anyway, I hate him."

A gratified sigh rose from the Madigans assembled. It was good to have
definite information, to know that this Miles Morgan was hatable. For
the Madigans loved to hate any one who could put them under
obligations--when they did not spend their very souls in a passion of
gratitude to him. But for this interloping, distant relative from
foreign shores they were prepared. They were ready to outrage him, to
throw his patronage in his teeth, if he dared offer it, to out-Madigan
the Madigans, if that were necessary; to disgust him and satisfy their
pride, wounded by the insolence of his prosperity. Yes, it was good to
hear Sissy's frank declaration of war. For war was as the breath of the
Madigans' nostrils. They knew themselves there, and, though they might
have trusted Sissy, they had feared for a moment that her report m