felt reticent on the subject."

"Well, there's nothing the matter with my tongue," said Linda. "It's
loose at both ends. Marian was an expert driver. She drove with the same
calm judgment and precision and graceful skill that she does everything
else, but the curve was steep and something in the brakes was defective.
It broke with a snap and there was not a thing she could do. Enough was
left of the remains of the car to prove that. Ten days afterward her
head was almost as white as snow. Before that it was as dark as mine.
But her body is just as young and her heart is just as young and her
face is even more beautiful. I do think that a white crown makes her
lovelier than she was before. I have known Marian ever since I can
remember, and I don't know one thing about her that I could not look you
straight in the eye and tell you all about. There is not a subterfuge
or an evasion or a small mean deceit in her soul. She is the brainiest
woman and the biggest woman I know."

"I haven't a doubt of it," said Peter Morrison. "And while you are
talking about nice women, we met a mighty fine one at Riverside on
Sunday. Her name is Mary Louise Whiting. Do you know her?"

"Not personally," said Linda. "I don't recall that I ever saw her. I
know her brother, Donald. He is the high-school boy who is having the
wrestle with the Jap."

"I liked her too," said Henry Anderson. "And by the way, Miss Linda,
haven't bug-catchers any reputation at all as nest builders? Is it true
that among feathered creatures the hen builds the home?"

"No, it's not," said Linda promptly. "Male birds make a splendid record
carrying nest material. What is true is that in the majority of cases
the female does the building."

"Well, what I am getting at," said Henry Anderson, "is this. Is there
anything I can do to help you with that billiard room that you're going
to convert to a workroom? What do you lack in it that you would like to
have? Do you need more light or air, or a fireplace, or what? When you
take us to the station, suppose you drive us past your house and give
me a look at that room and let me think over it a day or two. I might be
able to make some suggestion that would help you."

"Now that is positively sweet of you," said Linda. "I never thought of
such a thing as either comfort or convenience. I thought I had to take
that room as it stands and do the best I could with it, but since you
mention it, it's barely possible that more air