"Good gracious, Tishy, how awfully stupid you are to-day! What a fortunate thing it is that you and Mortimer have got me to take care of you! Of course you don't want jam. I never heard of any civilized being who did. But I suppose you'll admit that you want to see this girl?" "I don't think I do," said Letitia. "I don't see why I should." "Well, I do," said Mrs. Gault, with asperity. "Don't you take an interest in John? Don't you want to see if he's fallen into the clutches of an adventuress?" "She doesn't sound at all like an adventuress, Maud. I never heard of an adventuress making jam for her living." "Jam for her living! Bosh! Can't you imagine how she tells that to John, and shows him the glasses in the corner cupboard, and lets him find her stirring things in a big pot on the kitchen stove? Oh, she's no fool, my dear! Will you go and see her?" "I'd rather not." "Very well, then; if you care so little for John, you needn't go. I'll do it myself, and I can tell you, I'll size her up." Letitia looked uneasy. She knew nothing of Miss Reed except that she was poor and pretty. But she did not like the thought of subjecting even an unknown female to Mrs. Gault's mercies, when her interest was so evidently hostile and her curiosity so poignant. "If you think somebody must go, then I will," she said pacifically. "I don't see the use of it, but I can go better than you." "All right," said Mrs. Gault, immediately placated. "You'd better go now. It's always best to do a thing when you have the opportunity." "No," said Letitia; "I don't think I'll do that." "Why not? Is it possible you're so crazy to see that miserable little prince that I could put in my hat-box?" "I don't care about him," answered the girl, with unmoved placidity. "I don't like to go--to go this way." She made an explanatory gesture toward her dress. Mrs. Gault looked at her uncomprehendingly. "Why? What's wrong about your clothes?" It was painful, but Letitia had to explain: "If she's so poor as all that--and everybody says so--I don't think it's--it's--quite nice, some way or other, for me to go in this dress." Her voice took on a sudden tone of decision. "I won't do it, anyway." Her sister knew the tone, and knew that there was no use in combating the mood it indicated. "You have the queerest notions," she said, with a resigned sigh; "but do as you like. It's all the same, if you do go to-morrow. Only you must promise that you won't back out." Letitia promised.