lor, Serena, outwardly calm, in the lead and her
husband following, and tugging at the refractory tie.

Mrs. and Mr. Black--scanning them in the order of their importance--rose
as they appeared. Mrs. Black was large and impressive, and gorgeous to
view. She did not look her age. Her husband was not as tall as his wife,
and did not look his height. Annette swept forward.

"Oh, my dear Mrs. Dott," she gushed, taking Serena's hand in her own
gloved one. "We've just heard the news, Phelps and I, and we couldn't
resist dropping in to congratulate you. Isn't it wonderful!"

Serena admitted that it was wonderful. "We can hardly believe it yet,
ourselves," she said. "But it was real nice of you to come. Do sit down
again, won't you? Daniel, get Mr. Black a chair."

Captain Dan and Mr. Black shook hands. "Sit down anywhere, Barney," said
the former. "Anywhere but that rocker, I mean; that's got a squeak in
the leg."

Mr. Black, who had headed for the rocker, changed his course and sank
into an arm chair. The shudder with which his wife heard the word
"Barney," and the glare with which Serena favored her husband, were
entirely lost upon the latter.

"We had that rocker up in the attic till last month," he observed; "but
Serena found out 'twas an antique, and antiques seem to be all the go
now-a-days, though you do have to be careful of 'em. I suppose it's all
right. We'll be antiques ourselves before many years, and we'll want
folks to be careful of us. Hey? Ha! ha! ... Why, what's the matter,
Serena?"

Mrs. Dott replied, rather sharply, that "nothing was the matter."

"The rocker isn't very strong," she explained, addressing Mrs. Black.
"But it belonged to my great--that is, it has been in our family for a
good many years and we think a great deal of it."

Mrs. Black condescendingly expressed her opinion that the rocker was a
"dear."

"I love old-fashioned things," she said. "So does Mr. Black. Don't you,
Phelps?"

"Yes," replied that gentleman. His love did not appear to be
over-enthusiastic.

"But do tell us about your little legacy," went on the lady. "Of course
we have heard all sorts of ridiculous stories, but we know better than
to believe them. Why, we even heard that you were worth a million.
Naturally, THAT was absurd, wasn't it? Ha! ha!"

Captain Dan opened his mouth to reply, but his wife flashed a glance in
his direction, and he closed it again.

"Yes," said Serena, addressing Mrs. Black, "that was