"I know, of course,--you'd think that,--and it isn't that I'm finding fault with Julia and Edgar. I couldn't do that--they're so good to me. But, you see, I put them out so. Now, there's my room, for one thing. 'T was Ella's, and Ella has to keep running in for things she's left, and she says it's the same with the others. You see, I've got Ella's room, and Ella's got Tom's, and Tom's got Bert's. It's a regular 'house that Jack built'--and I'm the 'Jack'!" "I see," laughed Mary constrainedly. "And you want to come here? Well, you shall. You--you may come a week from Saturday," she added, after a pause. "I have a reception and a dinner here the first of the week, and--you'd better stay away until after that." "Oh, thank you," sighed Jane. "You are so good. I shall tell Julia that I'm invited here, so she won't think I'm dissatisfied. They're so good to me--I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings!" "Of course not," murmured Mary. * * * * * The big, fat tire of the touring-car popped like a pistol shot directly in front of the large white house with the green blinds. "This is the time we're in luck, Belle," laughed the good-natured young fellow who had been driving the car. "Do you see that big piazza just aching for you to come and sit on it?" "Are we really stalled, Will?" asked the girl. "Looks like it--for a while. I'll have to telephone Peters to bring down a tire. Of course, to-day is the day we _didn't_ take it!" Some minutes later the girl found herself on the cool piazza, in charge of a wonderfully hospitable old lady, while down the road the good-looking young fellow was making long strides toward the next house and a telephone. "We are staying at the Lindsays', in North Belton," explained the girl, when he was gone, "and we came out for a little spin before dinner. Isn't this Belton? I have an aunt who used to live here somewhere--Aunt Jane Pendergast". The old lady sat suddenly erect in her chair. "My dear," she cried, "you don't mean to say that you're Jane Pendergast's niece! Now, that is queer! Why, this was her very house--we bought it when the old gentleman died last year. But, come, we'll go inside. You'll want to see everything, of course!" It was some time before the young man came back from telephoning, and it was longer still before Peters came with the new tire, and helped get the touring-car ready for the road. The girl was very quiet when they finally left the house, and there was a troubled look deep in her eyes. "Why, Belle, what's the matter?" asked the young fellow concernedly, as he slackened speed in the cool twilight of the woods, some minutes later. "What's troubling you, dear?" "Will"--the girl's voice shook--"Will, that was Aunt Jane's house. That old lady--told me." "Aunt Jane?" "Yes, yes--the little gray-haired woman that came to live with us two months ago. You know her." "Why, y-yes; I think I've--seen her." The girl winced, as from a blow.