"There are so few houses that are--well, dignified enough; suited to Dick's position, you know." "Why don't you build?" "We might, of course, but that would take a long time, and--and, to tell the truth, I've set my--we have set our hearts on an old house; not too old, you know." "I see," said Sally; "just old enough." "Exactly," Henrietta agreed. "Just old enough. Now there's Miss Patty's house. It's restored and the work's done." "Well?" "And Miss Patty doesn't seem inclined to live in it. She doesn't like to leave Fox's. I saw her and spoke about it, and she said so." "Well, then, where is the difficulty? Patty's house is a very pleasant, homelike house. I judge that it is just old enough. Can't you rent it?" "No," said Henrietta in accents of despair. "Patty won't rent it. She says she may want to go back at any minute. She said she'd be glad to oblige me, as Doctor Sanderson's sister, but my being Mr. Torrington's wife changes the aspect of the matter. She seems to have some grudge against Dick." Sally laughed. "That isn't so strange. Knowing Patty, I should think you'd better give up the idea for the present." "That's just it," Henrietta replied hastily. "For the present. That makes it unwise for us to build, when we may be able to get that house at any time almost. Of course, Dick must not seem to force Miss Patty in any way. He had to use his authority under the will, you know. Mr. Hazen would have expected him to and would have _wished_ him to, or why should he have made his will that way? He _had_ to--Dick, I mean, of course--Dick simply _had_ to, don't you see, Sally, when he found that Patty had been using all that money and she wouldn't tell what she had used it for--wouldn't give a hint, you know. Dick only wanted a hint, so that he could keep his accounts straight, or something of that sort. It wasn't evident at all that Patty had used it for herself--Oh!" And Henrietta suddenly clapped her hand over her pretty mouth. "Have I been telling secrets, Sally? Have I?" She looked rather scared, as people were apt to be in any matter which concerned Sally, though I can't see why. Sally was as mild as a lamb in such cases. She was mild now, but she was gazing at Henrietta with solemn and serious eyes, as if she had discovered a new country. "I don't know, Henrietta," she replied, "whether you are telling secrets or not. What you were telling was news to me. If you are in any doubt about it, I should think you'd better not tell any more. But you can see why Patty is not inclined to do any favor for Dick."