omplete control of voice and face now. Although
she did not actually address Ida May, her manner was such that there
was no restraint put upon the company. It was the newcomer's manner,
if anything, that curtailed the usual friendly intercourse at the
Ball table.

Ida May possessed some powers of observation. She would have said
herself that she was able to "put two and two together." The way the
meal had been cooked, the way it was served, and the work entailed
in doing both these things, were matters not overlooked by the
visitor.

She knew that Prudence had given neither thought nor attention to
getting the dinner. The girl the Balls had received in Ida May's
name and supposed identity had done it all herself. It seemed to be
expected of her!

She saw, before the day was over, that Sheila was a very busy person
indeed. That she not only did the housework, but that she waited
upon Prudence and Cap'n Ira "hand and foot." She did it with such
unconcern that the new girl could be sure these tasks were quite
what was expected of her.

"Why," exclaimed Ida May to herself, "she's just hired help! Is
_that_ what they wanted me for when they sent Tunis Latham up to
Boston after me? I'd like to see myself!"

She had foreseen something of this kind when she had refused so
unconditionally to come down here to the Cape. And her observation
of the house and its furnishings, as well as the appearance of the
old couple, had confirmed her suspicion that her belief in the Balls
"being pretty well fixed" was groundless.

After her interview with Elder Minnett, although she had refrained
from detailing her story and her spiteful comments about Sheila and
Tunis Latham to the Paulings, she had not ceased to question Zebedee
and his mother about the financial condition of the Balls.

She had learned that a couple of thousand dollars would probably buy
all the real property the old people owned on Wreckers' Head. There
was a certain invested sum which secured them a fair living. Beyond
that, the Big Wreck Cove people knew of no wealth belonging to
either Cap'n Ira or Prudence.

Ida May already considered that she had come down here to the Cape
on a fool's errand. She would like to make herself solid, however,
with the old folks so as to benefit when they were dead and gone, if
that were possible. But to make herself a kitchen drudge for them?
She would like to see herself!

There was a phase of the situation which held Ida May