But, as is so often the way when we prepare ourselves for one situation, quite another one turns up. The three were not sitting, awaiting his return. The drawing-room was empty except for Mrs. Falkener, who was reading when he entered, and instead of betraying a conviction that he had been too long away, she looked up and said chattily: "Well, did you reduce the young woman to order?" "That is a good deal to expect from an unaided male, isn't it?" said Burton, very much relieved. "Ah, it depends on the male, my dear Burton. You, I imagine, could be very terrifying if you wished to be. What did the young woman do? Weep, protest, declare that it had all taken place quite without her consent?" Burton smiled. He had no intention whatsoever of sharing his recent experiences with Mrs. Falkener. "Ah," he said, "I see you know your own sex thoroughly. Where are Tuck and your daughter?" "Solon is taking a turn on the piazza; he hopes it will make him sleep better; and Cora was tired and has gone to bed." Mrs. Falkener sighed. "Cora doesn't seem very well to me." "I'm sorry to hear that," returned Crane. "I thought she was looking very fit this evening." He spoke more lightly than he felt, however, for something portentous in Mrs. Falkener's tone struck him with alarm. "Sit down, Burton," said she, sweeping her hand toward a cushioned stool at her side. "I want to say something to you." Crane found himself obeying, with his hands between his knees, and his toes turned in, like a school boy who has forgotten his lesson; then, becoming aware of this pose, he suddenly changed it--crossed one leg over the other, as he had done in the office a few minutes before. In the meantime, Mrs. Falkener was saying: "The truth is, I'm afraid that we must cut our visit short, delightful as it promises to be." "Oh, Mrs. Falkener, we're not making you comfortable. What is it?" "No, Burton, no." Mrs. Falkener held up her hand. "You are making us perfectly comfortable--at least, in all essentials. And who minds roughing it now and then for a week or so? It's good for us," she added playfully. "The housemaid is not--but no matter." "What has the housemaid done?" asked Crane with what semblance of interest he could summon, but as he spoke his heart went out in sympathy to every hotel and boarding-house keeper in the world. "Good heavens," he thought, "suppose my living depended on my pleasing them, what a state I should be in!" Aloud he said: "What has Lily been doing?" "Nothing, nothing. Lily means well, I'm sure, in spite of her lackadaisical ways. It is quite a privilege, I assure you, to be waited on by such an elegant young lady. She hooked me up wrong twice this evening, and when I not unnaturally objected, she stuck a pin in me. Oh, by accident, I'm sure. No, I have no fault to find with Lily, whatsoever."