"You look tired to death, Aileen," was Mrs. Caukins' greeting a few minutes afterwards, "come in and rest yourself before supper. Luigi was here just now and I've sent Dulcie over with him to Aurora's to get the Colonel; I saw him go in there fifteen minutes ago, and he's no notion of time, not even meal-time, when he's talking business with her. I know it's business, because Mr. Emlie drove up with him; he's waiting for him to come out. Romanzo has just telephoned that he can't get home for supper, but he'll be up in time to see you home." Mrs. Caukins was diplomatic; she looked upon herself as a committee of one on ways and means to further her son's interest so far as Aileen Armagh was concerned; but that young lady was always ready with a check to her mate. "Thank you, Mrs. Caukins, but I'll not trouble him; Tave is coming up to drive me home about eight; he knows checkerberry picking isn't easy work." Mrs. Caukins was looking out of the window and did not reply. "I declare," she exclaimed, "if there isn't Octavius this very minute driving up in a rush to Aurora's too--and Father Honore's with him!--Why, what--" Without waiting to finish her thought, she hurried to the door to call out to Dulcie, who was coming back over the bridge towards the house, running as fast as she could: "What's the matter, Dulcie?" "Oh, mother--mother--" the child panted, running up the road, "father wants you to come over to Mrs. Googe's right off, as quick as you can--he says not to stop for anything--" The words were scarcely out of her mouth before Mrs. Caukins, without heeding Aileen, was hurrying down the road. The little girl, wholly out of breath, threw herself down exhausted on the grass before the door. Aileen and Doosie ran out to her. "What is it, Dulcie--can't you tell me?" said Aileen. Between quickened breaths the child told what she knew. "Luigi stopped to speak to Mr. Emlie--and Mr. Emlie said something dreadful for Flamsted--had happened--and Luigi looked all of a sudden so queer and pale,"--she sat up, and in the excitement and importance of imparting such news forgot her over-exertion,--"and Mr. Emlie said father was telling Mrs. Googe--and he was afraid it would kill her--and then father came to the door looking just like Luigi, all queer and pale, and Mr. Emlie says, 'How is she?' and father shook his head and said, 'It's her death blow,' then I squeezed Luigi's hand to make him look at me, and I asked him what it was Mrs. Googe's was sick of, for I must go and tell mother--and he looked at Mr. Emlie and he nodded and said, 'It's town talk already--it's in the papers.' And then Luigi told me that Mr. Champney Googe had been stealing, Aileen!--and if he got caught he'd have to go to prison--then father sent me over home for mother and told me to run, and I've run so--Oh, Aileen!"