s to settlin' down we'll most likely look for
three rooms on the top floor with a two-by-four bath and a foldin'
kitchenette. I'll be satisfied at that, though."

It's a great state of mind to be in. I hope I didn't look as foolish
as I felt. If I had I guess they'd have had most of my private seccing
gone over careful. But nobody seemed to suspect how giddy I was in the
head. I goes caromin' around, swappin' smiles with perfect strangers
and actin' like I thought life was just a continuous picnic, with no
dishes to wash afterwards.

Course, my reg'lar evenin' program is to doll up after dinner and drop
around. I'll admit Auntie hadn't issued any standin' invitation, but
if Vee was expectin' me that's enough. And she was. We went to shows
some, or took walks up the Drive, or just sat in the window nook and
indulged in merry conversation. Once we had a whale of a time, when
Mr. Robert gives a perfectly good dinner dance for us. Oh, the real
thing--Cupid place-cards, a floral centerpiece representin' twin
hearts, and all that sort of stuff. I begun to feel as if it was all
over but the shoutin'. Even got to scoutin' around at odd times,
pricin' small apartments and gazin' into furniture store windows.

And then-- Well, it was just a little chat Auntie has over the 'phone
that takes most of the joy out of life. I didn't notice what she was
sayin' at first, bein' busy tryin' to draw out the floor plan of a cute
four-room affair I'd inspected recent. All of a sudden, though, I
pricks up my ears.

"But it's so hot in Jamaica," Auntie is tellin' this friend of
hers--"that is, unless one goes to Montego Bay, and the hotel there--
Oh, Newcastle? Yes, that is delightful, but-- Can one, really? An
army officer's villa! That would be ideal, up there in the mountains.
And Jamaica always routs my rheumatism. For three months? When can we
get a good steamer? The tenth. That would give us time. Well, I
think we shall join you. Let me sleep on it. I'll call you about noon
to-morrow? Good-by."

Meanwhile Vee and I are gazin' blank at each other. We don't need any
diagram to understand what Auntie is up to. Just one of her old
tricks--a speedy packin' up and a casual getaway for Jamaica. Say,
wouldn't that crack your faith in human nature? And she proceeds to
announce her scheme as placid as if it was something she'd thought out
special for our benefit.

"Excuse me," says I, "but you ain't plannin' on