eone be in the
sick room a share of the time and certainly Beatrice had no intention
of undertaking the responsibility.

Steve had acted as Aunt Belle fancied he would act, genuinely
concerned over the catastrophe and seeking refuge with this tired old
child a greater share of the time. By degrees Aunt Belle left Steve to
play the role of comforter and companion, since no nurse ever stayed
at the Constantine bedside for longer than a fortnight. So she was
allowed to gambol about in her pinafore frocks and high-heeled shoes,
wondering if her brother had made a fair will, taking into account the
fact that a woman is only as old as she looks--and with a tidy fortune
who knows what might happen after the proper mourning period?

Beatrice had been prostrated at the news. For two days she stayed in
bed and sobbed hysterically. Then she was prevailed upon to see her
father and to take the sensible attitude of preparing for a long
siege, as Steve suggested.

"How cold-hearted it sounds--a long siege!" she reproached.

"But it is true. He will not die--he will live until that splendid
vitality of his has been snuffed out by a careless law of rhythm, so
you may as well buck up and run in to see him every day and then go
about as usual."

"A sick room drives me wild. I wish I had taken a course in practical
nursing instead of the domestic-science things."

Steve did not answer.

"I can't bear to think of it. It's like having life-in-death in the
very house. Oh, Steve, can't you talk him into going to a sanitarium?
They'd have so many interesting kinds of baths to try!"

"He won't mind your parties, if that is what is bothering you. The
only thing he asks is to be left in peace in his room with plenty of
detective stories and plenty of medical attention, and he won't know
if you dance the roof off. But if you really want to hasten the end
send Gay up there with plans for remodelling his room--it will either
kill or cure," he laughed.

"I must do something to help me forget and make it easier for him,"
she said, soberly. "I'm going to try a faith healer--not because I
believe in them but because I don't want to leave any stone unturned.
I think a new interest would help papa. Would you try adopting a child
or my taking up classical dancing in deadly earnest?" She was quite
sincere and emotionally wrought up as she came up to him and laid her
head on his shoulder.

"Oh, I'd take up classical dancing," he advised.

She