"I feel it so to be! this much I can say, and will. Pearlie, the message was for Kitty Ross, from California. I delivered it by telephone as usual. 'Kitty,' I said, 'do not be alarmed; the message, though _most unusual_, is not otherwise than cheerful, if correctly transmitted, though of course at that distance it is impossible to be sure.' Then I gave her the words of the message----" "Yes, Sister!" Miss Pearl's voice was tense with eagerness. "The words of the message!" Miss Ruby seemed to be holding herself in forcible restraint. "I then asked her if it was clear, and she made answer that it was. To make quite sure, I asked her to repeat it, and she so did. Then she hung up; and--Sister, at that living moment of time, _some one else hung up_! I cannot be deceived;" as Miss Pearl uttered a cry of amazement, "and it is not the first time that it has happened, but I am resolved it shall be the last. That----" "Good evening, girls!" a high-pitched voice broke in on Miss Ruby's low, impressive tones. Mrs. Sharpe appeared, slightly out of breath as usual. "I thought I'd make a run in, and wish you joy; not that birthdays is all joy in this world, especially when you're on in years. You're gettin' quite gray, ain't you? Well, Ruby, _what_ do you make of that message?" Miss Ruby grew rigid. "To what do you allude, Sophia?" she asked. Mrs. Sharpe laughed, a high excited titter. "That telephone!" she cried: "it is the beat! I keep tellin' and tellin' Jonas Chamberlain, and he doesn't do a thing about it. Everything that goes to Kitty Ross's goes _right through_ my house. I s'posed you knew, of course. It's real annoying; I should think they would stop it. But--well, if that is _so_, girls, we shall see great times in Cyrus, what say, Pearlie?" "I do not understand you!" Miss Pearl spoke stiffly. "What!" Mrs. Sharpe bent forward eagerly, trying through the twilight to scrutinize the features of the twins. "You don't mean to say--you don't mean Ruby _hasn't told_ you? Well! It's _my_ belief that such things should be made public. The idea! Is this a Republic, I ask you, or a Monarchy? '_Coming, coach and six. Duke._' Did you ever? If that isn't English Aristocracy trying to lord it over----" She stopped. The twin sisters had risen to their feet; their round spectacles glistened through the dim twilight. "Sophia Sharpe!" Miss Ruby spoke slowly, her curls nodding emphasis. "Sophia Sharpe, you have tampered with the sanctity of Public Office. I _forbid_ you to repeat what you have criminally--I repeat, _criminally_ overheard!" "You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" piped Miss Pearl, her bird-like voice shrill with indignation. "To cast reflection upon Sister's faithfulness in office!"