hen she was able to speak, "but this is
so sudden my mind is not prepared for it. And so you wish to become a
brother of the House of Martha? I would be solemn about it if I could,
but really I cannot," and again she laughed.

I was about to retire, but she checked me.

"Do not go," she said; "do not be angry. Forget that I laughed. Now
perhaps I can help you. I will make you a promise. If you will agree
faithfully to tell me how Mother Anastasia receives your proposition, I
will give you her address."

"Promise," I said severely. "You may remember that this is not the first
time you have made me a promise."

"Don't bring up that old affair!" she exclaimed. "What I did then could
not be helped. When we had our talk about the sister with whom you had
fallen in love, I had no idea she was Sylvia Raynor, the daughter of my
hostess. When I discovered the truth, I had to drop the whole affair.
Any person of honor would have done that. I could not help its being
funny, you know."

I had become calmer, and was able to be politic again.

"If Mother Anastasia will allow me," I said, "I am willing to promise to
tell you what she thinks of my plan."

"Very good," she replied, "it is a bargain. She is stopping with a
friend, Mrs. Gardley, at 906 Alaska Avenue. I address her as 'Miss
Raynor,' because I always do that when I have a chance, but I think it
will be well for you to ask for Mother Anastasia."

I arose, and she followed my example.

"Now, then," said she, "we are friends," and her sparkling eyes seemed
to have communicated their merriment to the gems upon the white hand
which she held out to me.

I took the hand, and as I did so a politic idea flashed up within me. If
I must be friends with this woman, why not make use of her? This was a
moment when she was well disposed to serve me.

"If you are willing to consider me a friend," I replied, still holding
her hand, "you will not refuse to tell me something which I have long
wanted to know, and which I ought to know."

"What is it?" she asked.

"What was the trouble, which caused Sylvia Raynor to enter the House of
Martha?"

She withdrew her hand and reflected for a moment.

"Man is an inquisitive animal," she answered, "but we cannot alter his
nature, and there is some excuse for your wanting to know all about
Sylvia. She is out of your reach, of course, but you have certainly
taken as much interest in her as a man can take in a woman. The matter
is not