ng enough and not
without his trouble, too. They say--but it's all gossip, of course--that
he has set his heart on the widow."

"Mrs. Carew?"

"Of course, who else?"

"And she?"

"Why, she would be a fool to care for him, unless--"

"Unless what?"

Thomas laughed--a little uneasily, I could not help thinking.

"I'm afraid we're talking scandal," said he. "You know the
relationship?"

"What relationship?"

"Why, his relationship to the family. He is Gwendolen's cousin and I
have heard it said that he's named after her in Madam Ocumpaugh's will."

"O, I see! The next heir, eh?"

"Yes, to the Rathbone property."

"So that if she is not found--"

"Your sickly man, in that case, would be well worth the marrying."

"Is Mrs. Carew so fond of money as all that? I thought she was a woman
of property."

"She is; but it takes money to make some men interesting. He isn't
handsome enough, or independent enough to go entirely on his own merits.
Besides, he has a troop of relatives hanging on to him--blood-suckers
who more than eat up his salary."

"A business man, then?"

"Yes, in some New York house. He was always very fond of Gwendolen, and
I am not surprised to hear that he is very much cut up by our trouble. I
always thought well of Mr. Rathbone myself,"--which same ended the
conversation so far as my interest in it was concerned.

IX

THE BUNGALOW

As soon as I could break away and leave him I did, and betook myself to
Mrs. Carew's house. My resolve was taken. Late as it was, I would
attempt an interview with her. The lights still burning above and below
gave me the necessary courage. Yet I was conscious of some embarrassment
in presenting my name to the astonished maid, who was in the act of
extinguishing the hall-light when my vigorous ring prevented her. Seeing
her doubtful look and the hesitation with which she held the door, I
told her that I would wait outside on the porch till she had carried up
my name to Mrs. Carew. This seemed to relieve her and in a moment I was
standing again under the vines waiting for permission to enter the
house. It came very soon, and I had to conquer a fresh embarrassment at
the sight of Mrs. Carew's nimble and gracious figure descending the
stairs in all eagerness to greet me.

"What is it?" she asked, running hastily forward so that we met in the
center of the hall. "Good news? Nothing else could have brought you back
again so soon--and at an hour so late