oney. Maroney
appeared to feel better, although he was still very pale, and seemed to
be comforted by White's presence, although he did not say a word about
his trouble.

We will now make a trip which Maroney would like to make, and return to
Jenkintown.

Maroney's letter arrived by the five P. M. mail, at Jenkintown, the day
following the one on which Shanks mailed it. In the morning Mrs. Maroney
had spent some time with Madam Imbert, and then had gone for a drive
with De Forest. They went to Manayunk, had a fish dinner washed down
with a bottle of champagne, and drove back as happy and free from care
as two children. Mrs. Maroney left the buggy at Cox's at half-past four,
and found Madam Imbert waiting for her. The Madam noticed that she was a
little exhilarated. After they had conversed for some time she asked
Mrs. Maroney out for a walk, and they strolled leisurely down to the
station. The train from Philadelphia had just passed through, and Mrs.
Maroney said: "Let us walk up to Stemples's and see if any letters have
come for us."

When they reached Stemples's, Mrs. Maroney went in and received a
letter. Madam Imbert was not so fortunate. "Oh!" laughed Mrs. Maroney,
"I have seen the time, when I was single, that I would receive half a
dozen letters a day; but this is more valuable than them all, as it is
from my husband. Heigh ho! I wonder what my darling Nat. has to say." At
the same time she broke the seal, and then proceeded to read the letter.

Madam Imbert walked a little way behind her, as was her habit. She was a
very tall, commanding woman, and made this her habit so that she could
glance at anything that Mrs. Maroney might read as they walked along. It
was a part of her business, and so she was not to be blamed for it. Mrs.
Maroney flushed at the first word she read, but as she went on her color
heightened, until she was red as a coal of fire. "Why," she muttered,
"Nat., you're a d----d fool!" When angered she always used language she
had acquired in her former life.

Madam Imbert heard her, and was anxious to see the contents of the
letter, but could only catch a word here and there as she looked over
Mrs. Maroney's shoulder.

Mrs. Maroney glanced over the letter hurriedly, and then read it again.
She muttered to herself, and the Madam hoped she was going to tell her
what it was that caused her hard words; but she did not, and soon folded
the letter up and put it away. As they neared Cox's she said: