Mightn't it be," she asked, "that it is due to changing conditions
caused by the rapid development of science and invention? If one had
built the most perfect house possible five years ago and learned today
that infinitely superior lighting and heating and living facilities
could be installed at much less expense and far greater convenience,
don't you think that one would want to change? Isn't life a series of
changes? Mustn't one be changing constantly to keep abreast of one's day
and age?"

"Why, surely," answered Gilman, "and no doubt therein lies at least part
of the answer to Anderson's question."

"And then," added Marian, "things happen in families. Sometimes more
babies than they expect come to newly married people and they require
more room."

"My goodness, yes!" broke in Linda. "Just look at Sylvia Townsend--twins
to begin with."

"Linda!" breathed Eileen, aghast.

"So glad you like my name, dear," murmured Linda sweetly.

"And then," continued Marian, "changes come to other people as they have
to me. I can't say that I had any fault to find with either the comforts
or the conveniences of Hawthorne House until Daddy and Mother were swept
from it at one cruel sweep; and after that it was nothing to me but
a haunted house, and I don't feel that I can be blamed for wanting to
leave it. I will be glad to know that there are people living in it who
won't see a big strong figure meditatively smoking before the fireplace
and a gray dove of a woman sitting on the arm of his chair. I will be
glad, if Fate is kind to me and people like my houses, to come back
to the valley when I can afford to and build myself a home that has no
past--a place, in fact, where I can furnish my own ghost, and if I meet
myself on the stairs then I won't be shocked by me.

"I don't think there is a soul in the valley who blames you for selling
your home and going, Marian," said Linda soberly. "I think it would be
foolish if you did not."

The return to the living room brought no change. Eileen pouted while
Linda and Marian thoroughly enjoyed themselves and gave the guests a
most entertaining evening. So disgruntled was Eileen, when the young
men had gone, that she immediately went to her room, leaving Linda and
Marian to close the house and make their own arrangements for the night.
Whereupon Linda deliberately led Marian to the carefully dusted and
flower-garnished guest room and installed her with every comfort and
convenience th