n so gaudy a car, so soon after the funeral, and even without a
veil!

A few minutes later Ellen in her Ford rattled up to the door and got
out with the air of one who had come to do things. She walked
confidently up to the front door and tried it, rattled it, knocked,
and then went angrily around to the back, trying all the doors and
windows. Mrs. Perkins from her parlor window watched a minute; and,
when she saw Ellen come around to the front again and look up at the
second story, she threw a shawl around her shoulders and ran across
the street to impart faithfully her story.

"For the land's sake!" said Ellen indignantly. "What can Julia be
about? Mother always said she never would grow up, and I believe it. I
was afraid when I went away she had some scheme in her mind. She's
always getting up fool ideas. I remember that time when Mrs. Marsh
died she wanted to adopt the twins and bring them up. The idea! When
there was a county poorhouse and no reason why they shouldn't go to
it! But she'll have to come down off her independence and be sensible.
Herbert says we can't have any of her foolishness. It's us that would
have to suffer if she got into trouble and lost what little she's
got, and I suppose I've got to have it out with her once and for all
and get this thing settled. It's getting on all our nerves, and I've
got the fall house-cleaning and jelly to do, and I can't fool around
any longer. Well, I suppose I better try to get into this house. Have
you got any keys that might fit?"

Mrs. Perkins hurried over for all her keys, including trunk-keys; and
soon they had tried every door and every key with no effect, and had
to call in the youngest Perkins and boost him up to the upper-hall
window.

Under the guise of looking after Julia Cloud the two good ladies
invaded her home and proceeded to investigate. The parlor and the hall
gave forth no secrets except for a couple of handsome raincoats slung
carelessly upon chairs. But the dining-room, oh, the dining-room! If
Julia Cloud could have seen their faces as they swung open that
carefully closed door and stood upon the threshold aghast, looking at
the wreck of the breakfast, she would have cringed and shivered even
on her way to Harmony.

But Julia Cloud could not see; she was safely over the bridge and out
on the highway where she would not be likely to be followed, and the
wine of the morning was rising in her veins. Such wonderful air, such
clear blue sky an