"I hope not," Miss Lambkin returned. "I sh'd think the ones that did it would have it on their consciences if they did. They tell me that Sally Ladue discovered the fire. She and that Doctor Sanderson have been at the Mortons' ever since and, if you can believe all you hear, neither of 'em likes it any too well. Mrs. Morton's nice to her--she can be as nice as nice to them that she likes, though you wouldn't always think it--but Everett's the trouble." It was contrary to Mrs. Upjohn's principles to look surprised at any piece of information--and as if she had not heard it before. She gave a little laugh. "A good many girls," she remarked, "would give their eyes to be at the Mortons' for two weeks." "I guess that's what's the trouble with Everett," said Miss Lambkin pointedly. "Too much girl; and I guess he isn't any too particular about the kind either." Mrs. Upjohn was curious. To be sure, she was always curious, which was a fact that she flattered herself she concealed very neatly. Other people were not of the same opinion. "Why, Letty?" she asked frankly. She seldom allowed her curiosity to be so evident. "I've never heard of his being seen with any girls that he ought not to be with. Have you?" "Oh, not in Whitby," replied Miss Lambkin. "Not for Joseph! As far's that goes, he isn't seen very often with girls that he ought to be with. But I hear that when he's in Boston it's a different story. Of course, I haven't seen him with my own eyes, but I have reliable information. You know he goes to Boston for weeks at a time." "M-m," assented Mrs. Upjohn, rocking quietly and comfortably. "He stays at the best hotels, I believe." "_Registers_ at the most expensive," corrected Miss Lambkin, "I have no doubt. I s'pose he stays there some of the time. To tell the truth," she confessed, somewhat crestfallen at having to make the humiliating confession, "I didn't just hear what Everett does that Sally Ladue doesn't like." "Oh," said Mrs. Upjohn. She did not look up and there was a certain air of triumph in the way she uttered that simple syllable which grated on Miss Lambkin's sensibilities. "Sally's a sort of high-and-mighty girl," continued Miss Lambkin tentatively. "Sally's a nice girl and a good girl," said Mrs. Upjohn cordially; "capable, I should say." "No doubt she is," Letty returned without enthusiasm. "It's rather strange that she is all that, considering what her father did." Mrs. Upjohn laughed comfortably. "I used to know her father. There was no telling what he would do." "Ran off with another woman," said Letty, "and some money. That's what I heard." Mrs. Upjohn laughed again. "He disappeared," she conceded. "I never heard that there was any other woman in the case and I'm reasonably sure there wasn't any money." "He hasn't ever been heard of since?" Mrs. Upjohn shook her head. "And he left them without any money? I thought he stole it."