messy draperies, no fussy statuettes, vases,
gilt boxes, and the like. Mildred awaited the entrance of Mrs. Brindley
hopefully.

She was not disappointed. Presently in came a quietly-dressed,
frank-looking woman of a young forty--a woman who had by no means lost
her physical freshness, but had gained charm of another and more
enduring kind. As she came forward with extended but not overeager
hand, she said:

"I was expecting you, Mrs. Siddall--that is, Miss Stevens."

"Mr. Jennings did not say when I was to come. If I am disturbing you--"

Mrs. Brindley hastened to assure her that her visit was quite
convenient. "I must have someone to share the expense of this
apartment with me, and I want the matter settled. Mr. Jennings has
explained about you to me, and now that I've seen you--" here she
smiled charmingly--"I am ready to say that it is for you to say."

Mildred did not know how to begin. She looked at Mrs. Brindley with
appeal in her troubled young eyes.

"You no doubt wish to know something about me," said Mrs. Brindley. "My
husband was a composer--a friend of Mr. Jennings. He died two years
ago. I am here in New York to teach the piano. What the lessons will
bring, with my small income, will enable me to live--if I can find
someone to help out at the expenses here. As I understand it, you are
willing to pay forty dollars a week, I to run the house, pay all the
bills, and so on--all, of course, if you wish to come here."

Mildred made a not very successful attempt to conceal her embarrassment.

"Perhaps you would like to look at the apartment?" suggested Mrs.
Brindley.

"Thank you, yes," said Mildred.

The tour of the apartment--two bedrooms, dining-room, kitchen,
sitting-room, large bath-room, drawing-room--took only a few minutes,
but Mildred and Mrs. Brindley contrived to become much better
acquainted. Said Mildred, when they were in the drawing-room again:

"It's most attractive--just what I should like. What--how much did Mr.
Jennings say?"

"Forty dollars a week." She colored slightly and spoke with the
nervousness of one not in the habit of discussing money matters. "I do
not see how I could make it less. That is the fair share of the--"

"Oh, I think that is most reasonable," interrupted Mildred. "And I
wish to come."

Mrs. Brindley gave an almost childlike sigh of relief and smiled
radiantly. "Then it's settled," said she. "I've been so nervous about
it." She looked at Mil