hat Edith's message was to me.

"Sorry," it was repeated. "Can't conveniently have you until next week.
House packed with company. Better stay with the Morgans." Signed,
"Edith."

CHAPTER V

THE UNIMPORTANT FIFTH WHEEL

Better stay with the Morgans! Who was I to be bandied about in such
fashion? Couldn't have me! I wasn't a seamstress who went out by the
day. House packed with company! Well--what of that? Hadn't I more right
there? Wasn't I Alec's own sister? Wasn't I born under the very roof to
which I was now asked not to come? Weren't all my things there--my bed,
my bureau, my little old white enameled desk I used when I was a child?
Where was I to go, I'd like to ask? Couldn't have me! Very well, then, I
wouldn't go!

I called up my brother Malcolm's office in New York. Perhaps he would be
kind enough to engage a room in a hospital somewhere, or at least find a
bed in a public ward. "Sorry, Miss Vars," came the answer finally to me
over the long distance wire, "but Mr. Vars has gone up to Hilton,
Massachusetts, for the week-end. Not returning until Monday."

I sat dumbly gazing into the receiver. Where could I go? Lucy, I was
sure, would squeeze me in somewhere if I applied to her--she always
can--but a letter received from Lucy two days before had contained a
glowing description of some celebrated doctor of science and his wife,
who were to be her guests during this very week. She has but one guest
room. I couldn't turn around and go back to Wisconsin. I couldn't go to
Oliver, now married to Madge. They live in a tiny apartment outside
Boston. There is nothing for me to sleep on except a lumpy couch in the
living-room. Besides there is a baby, and to carry germs into any
household with a baby in it is nothing less than criminal.

Never before had I felt so ignominious as when, half an hour later, I
meekly passed my telegram to Mrs. Morgan and asked if it would be
terribly inconvenient if I did stay after all.

"Not at all. Of course not," she replied coldly. "I shall not turn you
out into the street, my dear. But you stated your wish to go so
decidedly that I have telephoned Henrietta's friends in Orange to come
over to take your place. We had not told you that tickets for the
theater tonight and matinee tomorrow had already been bought. The
friends are coming this evening. So I shall be obliged to ask you to
move your things into the sewing-room."

I moved them. A mean little room it was on the