thing, with a dozen blooms. She wished that
her benefactor had stayed to let her thank him. She was not sure that
she even knew where to send a note.

She hunted him up in the telephone book, and found him--Ulrich Stoelle.
His hot-houses were on the old Military Road. She remembered now to
have seen them, and to have remarked the house, which was peaked up in
several gables, and had quaint brightly-colored iron figures set about
the garden--with pointed caps like the graybeards in Rip van Winkle, or
the dwarf in Rumpelstiltzkin.

When Derry's car slid up to Margaret's door, he saw the two children at
an upper window. They waved to him as he rang the bell. He waited
several moments and no one came to open the door. He turned the knob
and, finding it unlatched, let himself in.

As he went through the hall he was aware of a strange stillness. Not a
maid was in sight. Passing Margaret's room on the second floor he
heard voices.

The children were alone in the nursery. He was flooded with sunlight.
Margaret-Mary's pink wash frock, Teddy's white linen--yellow jonquils
in a blue bow--snowy lambs gambolling on a green frieze--Bo-peeps,
flying ribbons--it was a cheering and charming picture.

"How gay you are," said Derry.

"We are not gay in our hearts," Teddy told him.

"Why not?"

"Mother's crying--we heard her, and then Nurse went down and left us,
and we looked out of the window and you came."

Derry's heart seemed to stop beating. "Crying?"

Even as he spoke, Margaret stood on the threshold. There were no
tears, but it was worse than tears.

He started towards her, but with a gesture she stopped him.

"I am so glad you are--here," she said.

"My dear--what is it?"

She put her hand up to her head. "Teddy, dearest," she asked, "can you
take care of Margaret-Mary until Cousin Derry comes back? I want to
talk to him."

Teddy's grave eyes surveyed her. "You've been cryin'," he said, "I
told Cousin Derry--"

"Yes. I have had--bad news. But--I am not going to cry--any more.
And you'll take care of sister?"

"I tell you, old chap," said Derry resourcefully, "you and
Margaret-Mary can open my parcel, and when I come back we'll all play
together."

Outside with Margaret, with the door shut on the children, he put his
arm about her. "Is it Win--is he--hurt?"

"He is--oh, Derry, Derry, he is dead!"

Even then she did not cry. "The children mustn't know. Not till I get
a grip on myself.