“Better than I expected. We sold more than half for fair prices. Those at the auction didn’t bring what we could wish, but we still have a number in reserve which I shall place from time to time at some of the big galleries, so eventually we shall realize a pretty decent sum. Are you satisfied, my dear co-heir?” “Perfectly. I think you have managed excellently.” “They say artists don’t usually have much business sense, but I really believe I shall develop some. I don’t know how it would be if I had to handle my own wares, probably I might fall down on such transactions, but given the proper incentive I believe I could put it over.” He beamed down upon her, and she gave him smile for smile, aware that it was good to see his tall figure, to look into his clear, honest eyes, and was surprised when a sudden desire to stroke his hair came over her. It was queer that she felt so, and suddenly her eyes fell before his steady gaze. She moved her chair a little farther away from his, and for a short space silence fell between them. Then Reed roused himself to say, “What’s your news, Cronette? I’ve told you mine.” Ellen wavered a moment before she determined to tell him. “Cousin Rindy is going out to Seattle for a year, maybe longer, to be with her brother. It has just been settled.” “Great Scott! You don’t say so? And what’s to become of you? Don’t tell me you are going, too.” “No, I am not. Mabel wanted me to spend the winter with her, but she is so absorbed in getting ready to be married,—I wrote you of that, you know,—that I don’t think I would feel as if I fitted into the scheme of things. I’d be like a little brown wren in a cage of birds of paradise.” “Humph! not much you would. Of course I remember what you said about Miss Wickham’s engagement, and, if I didn’t, old Tom wouldn’t let me forget.” “Oh, Reed——” “Cronine, please.” “Cronine, then. Do you think Tom is very hard hit?” “I think he was at first, but he is now in the convalescent stage, is contemplating a mental change of scene, is shunting the picture of Miss Mabel off the stage, and is substituting another.” “Who is it?” “It was a gaudy blonde when I left; I don’t know who it will be when I get back.” Ellen laughed. “He must be rather a fickle individual.” “He might be called so in his present development, but I think he’d stick, given the proper lure. I’m built on different lines; when I fall I fall hard and stay right there forever and aye. There’s one thing, Cronette, that I’ve been saving to tell you, and that is I have bought the haunted house; got it for next to nothing, the owners were that glad to get rid of it.” “Oh, R—Cronine, you have really bought it?” “Certain sure, the whole outfit,—studio, trees, garden, all the whole thing, and I’m going to change the name of ‘haunted house.’” “To what?” “That depends upon you.” “Upon me?”