bbing with wild conjectures, so mournful, so elusive
it was. The fantastic thought crossed my mind that this mysterious
elderly friend of my dead mother's looked like a long famished man,
coming suddenly in sight of food.

By the time the dinner was over I was intensely nervous. Katie
served us our coffee in the living room, and when I took mine my hand
trembled so that the tiny cup rattled against the saucer. I rose from
my chair and walked to the fireplace, set the cup upon the mantel and
stood looking into the blazing logs Jim had heaped against the old
chimney. My guests could not see my face, and I hoped to be able to
pull myself together.

"Ready to have me tell you how you look to me, now?" said Harry
Underwood's voice, softly, insidiously in my ear.

I started and moved a little away from him, which brought me nearer
to the fire. The next moment I was wildly beating at little tongues of
flame running up the flimsy fabric of my dress.

I heard hoarse shouts, shrill screams, felt rough hands seize me, and
wrap me in heavy, stifling cloth, which seemed to press the flames
searingly down into my flesh, and then for a little I knew no more.

It seemed only a moment that I lost consciousness. When I came back to
myself I was lying on the couch with Lillian Underwood's deft, tender
fingers working over me. From somewhere back of me Dicky's voice
sounded in a hoarse, gasping way that terrified me.

"For God's sake, Lil, is she--"

Lillian's voice, firm, reassuring, answered:

"No, Dicky, no, she's pretty badly burned, I fear, but I am sure she
will be all right. Now, dear boy, get your mother to her room and make
her lie down. Mrs. Durkee and I can take care of Madge better with you
all out of the way. Did you get a doctor, Alfred?"

"Coming as soon as he can get here," Alfred Durkee replied.

"Good," Lillian returned. "Now everybody except Mrs. Durkee get out
of here. Katie, bring a blanket, some sheets, and one of Mrs. Graham's
old nightdresses from her room. I shall have to cut the gown."

Even through the terrible scorching heat which seemed to envelop my
body I realized that Lillian, as always, was dominating the situation.
I could hear the snip of her scissors as she cut away the pieces of
burned cloth, and the low-toned directions to Mrs. Durkee, which told
me that Lillian already had secured our first aid kit and was giving
me the treatment necessary to alleviate my pain until the physician
should a