assertion she had put on
this defiant manner, of conscious indifference to expected criticism. It
was the note of her period, moreover, to flaunt independence, to push
things to extremes. Needless to say that in Adelle's case it had been
further emphasized by the episode with the customs officers. Here again
she had defied recognized authorities and got into trouble over it;
indeed, had become mildly notorious in the newspapers. The only way she
could carry off her mistake and her notoriety was, like a child, by
exaggerating her nonchalance. Thus she had met President West and the
other officers of the trust company. Alone--for as usual Archie had
evaded the disagreeable--she had met them in their temple and felt their
frigid disapprobation of her and all her ways. She had carried it off by
forcing her note, "throwing it into the old boy," as she described it to
Archie, with all the loud clothes, the loud manners she had at her
command, and she knew that she had succeeded in making a very bad
impression upon the trust company's president. She felt that she did not
care--he was nothing to her.

In the same defiant mood and with the same "war-paint" she had entered
Judge Orcutt's court and answered his preliminary questions. But she
felt ill at ease, rather miserable under his kindly, heart-searching
gaze. She wished that she hadn't: she wanted to blush and drop her eyes.
Instead she returned his look out of her still, gray eyes with a
fascinated stare.

At last the smile faded from the judge's lips, and he withdrew his gaze
from the bizarre figure before him. He asked in a brisker tone with
several shades less of personal interest,--

"Your husband is with you?"

"No," she stammered uncomfortably, realizing that Archie was again
evading.

He was outside lolling in the motor that they had hired by the day,
fooling with Adelle's lapdog and getting through the time as best he
could. Adelle so informed the judge, who received the news with a slight
frown and proceeded to the business before them. The trust officer
thought that now matters would be expedited, but the judge disappointed
him. After taking his pen to sign the papers, he kept his hand upon
them, and clearing his throat addressed Adelle.

"Mrs. Davis," he began in formal tones, "you first came into my court
seven years ago, with your aunt, at the time of your uncle's death--you
remember, doubtless?"

Adelle said "yes" faintly.

"As your mother's only he