u think of them?
Honestly, Phil?"

"All to the good, Ninette; very ornamental. Drina--and that Josephine
kid are real beauties. I--er--take to Billy tremendously. He told me
that he'd locked up his nurses. I ought to have interfered. It was
really my fault, you see."

"And you didn't make him let them out? You are not going to be very good
morally for my young. Tell me, Phil, have you seen Austin?"

"I went to the Trust Company, but he was attending a directors' confab.
How is he? He's prosperous anyhow, I observe," with a humorous glance
around the elaborate hallway which they were traversing.

"Don't dare laugh at us!" smiled his sister. "I wish we were back in
Tenth Street. But so many children came--Billy, Josephine, Winthrop, and
Tina--and the Tenth Street house wasn't half big enough; and a dreadful
speculative builder built this house and persuaded Austin to buy it. Oh,
dear, and here we are among the rich and great; and the steel kings and
copper kings and oil kings and their heirs and dauphins. _Do_ you like
the house?"

"It's--ah--roomy," he said cheerfully.

"Oh! It isn't so bad from the outside. And we have just had it
redecorated inside. Mizner did it. Look, dear, isn't that a cunning
bedroom?" drawing him toward a partly open door. "Don't be so horridly
critical. Austin is becoming used to it now, so don't stir him up and
make fun of things. Anyway you're going to stay here."

"No, I'm at the Holland."

"Of _course_ you're to live with us. You've resigned from the service,
haven't you?"

He looked at her sharply, but did not reply.

A curious flash of telepathy passed between them; she hesitated, then:

"You once promised Austin and me that you would stay with us."

"But, Nina--"

"No, no, no! Wait," pressing an electric button; "Watson, Captain
Selwyn's luggage is to be brought here immediately from the Holland!
Immediately!" And to Selwyn: "Austin will not be at home before
half-past six. Come up with me now and see your quarters--a perfectly
charming place for you, with your own smoking-room and dressing-closet
and bath. Wait, we'll take the elevator--as long as we have one."

Smilingly protesting, yet touched by the undisguised sincerity of his
welcome, he suffered himself to be led into the elevator--a dainty white
and rose rococo affair. His sister adjusted a tiny lever; the car moved
smoothly upward and, presently stopped; and they emerged upon a wide
landing.

"Here," said Nina,