"How do you do?" she cried brightly. "You are Mr. Severs, Senior, aren't you? Welcome home! And this is your friend, I know." She shook hands with them both, with great cordiality. She must disarm them, before she could begin working them into a proper adjustment with life. "I am Eveley Ainsworth. Are you admiring my steps? I am very eccentric and temperamental and all that, and I have to live alone. I do not like being crowded in with other folks. I like to do as I please, and not bother with anybody else." "Very sensible, I'm sure," said Father-in-law. "Sure," echoed the whiskered one breezily. "That was the first little seed," she chuckled to herself, as she ran blithely up the stairs. Later, when she heard Mrs. Severs in the room beneath, she went to the head of the inner stairway and called down to her. "Come up a minute. I want to see you." Mrs. Severs lost no time. "My husband says it is simply absurd," she began breathlessly. "He says people have to do their duty. He says a thing is right or wrong, and that settles it. We are all father has in the world, and Dody says it is plainly our duty to keep him with us. He says a fellow would be taking an awful chance to marry you, if that is a sample of your principles. Don't you believe in any duty, Miss Ainsworth?" "Only one," said Eveley with great firmness. "Oh, what is that?" came the eager query. "That," was the dignified reply, "is something that doesn't enter into this case at all, and doesn't need to be discussed." "Well, Dody says--" "Dody may be a very sweet husband, but he is not progressive. His idea is old, outworn and antedeluvian. Simply musty. Now, this is my plan--the plan of progress according to new ideas which means happiness for all. Father-in-law and the whiskered friend are born for each other. They are affinities, and soul-mates, and everything. I saw it at the first glance. We'll get them a little cottage off somewhere beyond the odor of onions, and they can revel in liver and pipes to their hearts' content." "Impossible! Whiskers has a wife of his own." "What?" Eveley was much disconcerted. "Well, maybe she will get a divorce so her husband can marry your father--I mean--maybe it won't stick, you know." "It's been sticking for forty years, and I suppose it will go on forever. You see she doesn't have him around much and so she probably forgets how he is. He is always out with father, and she is asleep when he gets home." "Well, don't worry about it. He had no business being married, for it was a lovely plan--but it can't be helped now. Never mind." "Listen," said Mrs. Severs suddenly. "Hear the sizzling. That's onions. Didn't I tell you? I was going to have chicken croquettes and creamed peas, with lettuce salad and fruit jello. But how can Dody and I sit down to a decent meal with the whole house reeking with tobacco and onions?" "Never mind, dear. We'll find the adjustment in time. Just try to be patient."