Part 12 (1/2)

”About your daughter,” said Craig, still hter ought to get married”

Roxana Severence was so amazed that her mouth dropped open ”Married?”

she echoed, as if her ears had deceived her

The colossal ito talk to her about such a private matter! And she had not yet known hiht had he beenfrequent visits--entirely on his own invitation, for she certainly would not overtly provoke such a visitation as his cory had she dared But Craig's ; ould--ould not a person so indifferent to the decencies of life do if he were crossed?

”Shefir here these past two or three weeks?”

Mrs Severence was astounded anew The hter! This co!

”It's not my habit tofrivolous, idle people like you I've been cohter”

He paused Mrs Severence gave a feeble, frightened sht have been the beginnings of a hastily-suppressed call for help

”And,” Craig went on energetically, ”I find that she is a very superior sort of person In another environ, considering the sickly, sycophantic atht up in Noant to see her hly discontented and unhappy She's becoet her married It's your duty to rouse yourself”

Mrs Severence did rouse herself just at this , she stood and said:

”You are very kind, Mr Craig, to offer to assistup my family Surely--such--such interest is unusual on brief and very slight acquaintance” She rang the bell ”I can show my appreciation in only one way” The old butler, Williaentleid dignity and politeness, stood at the large entrance doors, significantly holding aside one curtain Craig rose, his face red ”Mrs Severence isn't very well,” said he noisily to the servant, as if he were on teraret I'll wait for her in the garden” And he rushed out by thethat opened on the veranda, leaving the amazed butler at the door, uncertain what to do

Mrs Severence, ascending the stairs in high good hu handled a sudden and difficult situation as well as she had ever read of its being handled in a novel,

”Sh-h!” said she in a whisper, for she had not heard the front door close ”He aret followed her mother into the library at the head of the stairs

”It was that Craig man,” explained Mrs Severence, when she had the door closed ”What DO you think he had the iaret, iaret reflected a brief instant ”Nonsense!” she said decisively

”He's not that kind You misunderstood him”

”I tell you he did!” cried her mother ”And I ordered hiaret, clutching her mother's arm ”WHAT?”

”I ordered him out of the house,” stammered her mother

”I wish you'd stick to your novels and let aret, pale with fury ”Is he gone?”