on, and then started for town. As it was, they might be angry, and
no wonder! And these were her neighbors and very good friends, after
all, the women upon whose good feeling half the joy of her country home
and garden depended. It was too bad!

She glanced at the blue-prints, but one of her sudden inspirations
turned the page blank. What time was it? Ten minutes of twelve. She
referred to her new timetable. Ten minutes of--why, she could just
catch the noon train, rush home, meet her guests, explain, and come
back easily on the one o'clock. But would it be wise? Why not?

Her thoughts in a jumble, Susanna hastily gathered her small
possessions together, moved to a decision by the always imperative
argument that in a few minutes it would be too late to decide.

"Heavens! I'm glad I thought of that!" she ejaculated, seating herself
in the train as the noon whistles shrilled all over the city. A moment
later she was a trifle disconcerted to find the orphanage plans still
in her hand.

"Well, this is surely one of my crazy days!" Susanna strapped the stiff
sheets firmly to her handbag. "I must not forget to take those back,"
she told herself. "Jim will ask for them the very first thing."

Her house; when she reached it, seemed quiet, seemed empty. Susanna
crossed the porch, wondering, and encountered the maid.

"Emma! Nobody come?"

"Sure you had the wrong day of it," said Emma, beaming. "Mrs.
Harrington fomed about an hour ago, and she says 'tis NEXT Saturday
thin!"

"What do you mean?" said Susanna, sharply.

"'Tis not to-day they're comin', Mrs. Fairfax--"

"Nonsense!" Susanna said under her breath. She flew to her desk and
snatched up the scribbled card of engagements. "Why, it's no such
thing!" she said indignantly. "Of course it's to-day! October
sixteenth, as plain as print." And with her eyes still on the card she
reached for her desk telephone.

"Ethel," said Susanna, a moment later. "Listen, Ethel, this is Susanna.
Ethel, what made you say the club luncheon wasn't to-day? This is my
day to have the girls.... Certainly.... Why, I don't care what she
said, I have it written down!... Why, I think that's very funny.... I
have it written.... No, you can laugh all you want to, but I know I'm
right.... No, that's nothing. Jim will eat it all up to-morrow; he says
he never gets enough to eat on Sundays.... But I can't understand, and
I don't believe YET that I... Yes, it's written right here; I've got my
ey