e than two of this suite, one for my
bedroom and the other for a sitting-room. So the small room there is
practically going to waste."

"Do you have to keep it?" asked Elinor, "I should think Miss Ardsley
would be glad to have it----"

"But it belongs with this suite," urged Rosamond quietly. "It has no
door except into these other rooms."

This was so evident a reason for her being burdened with an unnecessary
room that Elinor fell silent for a little space while the others moved
to the other side of the room to look over some fine photographs of the
old French chateaux. Presently her face cleared and she went over to the
table where they were busy with the views.

"Why wouldn't you consent to Patricia having the little room until there
is a vacancy?" she inquired with a tinge of hesitation. "She could pay
you the rent----"

Rosamond Merton broke in with such a decided negation that Patricia gave
up hope, but Elinor persisted gently.

"Really, you know, Miss Pat couldn't possibly come under any other
conditions," she said with sweet finality. "We are very anxious for her
to be here, of course, since Madame Milano urged it; but if you feel
that you can't have her under such circumstances, there's nothing for
it but to wait till someone leaves and she can get a room from Miss
Ardsley."

Rosamond Merton was silent for a long minute, and then she suddenly
smiled her slow smile.

"Since you speak so very positively," she said with a graceful gesture
of resignation, "there is nothing more for me to do than to give in. I
will rent the room----"

"At the rate which they charge you," Elinor gently insisted.

"At the regular Artemis Lodge rates," agreed Rosamond Merton with a
little helpless laugh. "She shall have it entirely to herself as long as
she wants it, and I promise never to intrude unless I'm asked."

This considerate speech so moved Patricia that she burst out with a
grateful offer to obliterate herself part of the time so that her
generous hostess might not feel the loss of the room; but a nudge from
Judith's rather angular elbow curtailed her gratitude, and she allowed
Elinor to voice her thanks, while she tried to catch Judith's eye and
understand the meaning of the prod. Judith turned to the photographs
again and was not to be understood so quickly.

It was decided that the furniture should remain in the little room,
Patricia merely adding her own desk, and that she should retain it until
another r