judge mildly. "Now I'll tell you all about
it."

"Why do you tell me?" inquired Dunham firmly.

"How can you tell Miss Lacey if I don't?"

"I'm not going to tell her."

"Why not? You've been there once."

"My dear Judge Trent," began John impressively, "I was late in coming
to it, I know; but I have lately been turning my talents to minding my
own business"--

"Which is mine," put in Judge Trent. "It's what I engaged you for."

"Well and good, but not to attend to your pleasures," retorted John,
with a grin; "your family and domestic affairs. You will naturally
visit Miss Lacey this afternoon. You couldn't do less."

The judge scowled. "I might call her up on the 'phone," he said
gloomily.

"You might," returned John, "if you could send her a mind wave which
would draw her to the corner grocery. I have had one appointment made
by postcard, to speak to her at the corner grocery."

"Call it up, then, and ask them to send for her," commanded the judge
curtly.

"Certainly, if you say so," responded Dunham, "but don't you think if
she got you on the wire from there, her conversation might be too
entertaining and instructive to the listeners? Her methods at the
'phone are--unusual. The day we talked I heard her distinctly through
the window as well as over the wire."

Judge Trent groaned. "I haven't crossed her threshold in ten years, but
I suppose I shall have to do it if you're going to be so confoundedly
obstinate and disobliging."

"Certainly," returned Dunham smoothly. "It's time such unneighborly
habits were broken up. And say, Judge, ask her to feel round and find
out if Miss Derwent doesn't want to see me at her island this summer."

"H'm. Trust you among those lobster traps?" returned the judge
irascibly. "Never. I feel some responsibility to your family."

As Miss Lacey said afterward, it was the greatest mercy that she wasn't
out that evening. She had been inclined to go over to Selina Lane's to
get a skirt pattern, but some trifle had prevented her setting forth,
so that she sat rocking gently in her sitting-room, enjoying blind
man's holiday at about eight o'clock, and reflecting on the contents of
a letter from Miss Derwent which she held in her lap, when she saw in
the dusk an unmistakable figure turn in at her gate.

"Calvin!" she exclaimed, and surprised color mounted to her forehead as
she rose to open the door.

"No lights. I thought you were out," was Judge Trent's greeting.

Now M