"She did, my dear. That sweetest flower of all the world used to bring her little troubles to me: she never had any big ones, bless her! she didn't like to bother John about the price of butter, she said. She called me her Cousin Confessor; as if she ever had anything to confess! But about Johanna--wait a moment, my dear!" The door opened, and Miss Croly appeared with the inevitable milk posset. "I will take it in ten minutes, Cornelia. I am busy now." "It is the regular hour----" Miss Croly began mildly; but she was cut short. "I will take it in ten minutes!" Madam Flynt raised her voice, a rare thing with her. "There is a gazelle in the garden, Cornelia!" Miss Croly vanished without a word. Kitty opened wondering eyes; Madam Flynt waved her hand. "She understands. We have our private code, my dear. Though exasperating at times, Cornelia Croly is no fool. She will be back in ten minutes. Kitty, my child----" Madam Flynt spoke with kindly emphasis--"don't be disturbed about your Aunt Johanna and the Judge. They know each other like two old shoes." "Of course! I was only afraid----" "You needn't be afraid. You would be glad, I should think, wouldn't you? Edward Peters is the very salt of the earth, and he has been in love with her all his life. It's the Cyrus way!" Madam Flynt added rather pettishly. "One-idea'd people: that's why they are mostly spinsters and bachelors. _Well_, Kitty! What is it?" Kitty had risen from her low stool, pale and wide-eyed. "You don't mean," she faltered; "Madam Flynt, you cannot mean that they----" Madam Flynt nodded her cap-ribbons into a perfect dance of triumph. "I mean that they are probably going to marry each other," she announced. "I certainly hope they are! Why upon earth shouldn't they? Kitty, do you suppose the affections run down like a clock if they are not wound up in the early twenties? Nothing of the sort! A man of sixty needs a wife as much as a boy of twenty; more, in many cases! And if ever," she added emphatically, "a woman needed a sensible man to take care of her, and keep the bees out of her bonnet, that woman is Johanna Ross! There! Give me a kiss, my dear, and then run along, and tell Cornelia Croly, as you go, that she may bring in her noxious draught. She doesn't sleep at night if I don't take it regularly. Most exasperating woman--and, Kitty!" she called the girl back to add impressively; "if you meet your Uncle Edward on the steps to-day give _him_ a kiss, and tell him you are thankful for your mercies!" Was Madam Flynt in league with Occult Powers? An already sufficiently bewildered Kitty did meet Judge Peters on the steps, just coming out of Ross House. Some strong emotion had broken up his usual courtly calm; his face was suffused, his eyes shone.