"She's in an abnormal state herself. That's what's the matter. I know her grief at losing Father is profound, and no doubt the money loss means more to her than it does to me. Henry and I have talked it over, and we feel it will be just as well for Harry if he doesn't have so much money to look forward to as we expected. With Linda it's different. It does deprive her of much that perhaps she expected to do. We don't know what her thoughts have been all these days she has lain there so quiet. She thinks Bertram is to blame for taking on that irrigation business?" "To blame for everything. She--she used some pretty strong language this morning." "Oh, but that's Linda," responded Harriet quickly. "She's always extreme." "Do you think Mr. King is in love with her?" asked Miss Barry bluntly. Her niece looked up curiously. "Why? Do you?" Miss Belinda made a protesting gesture with one stockinged hand. "My dear! You'll never prove anything of that sort by me. I think he's all stirred up about her, but if she's right, that might be remorse on his part. He looked to me this morning as if some able-bodied woman ought to take him in her lap and rock him." Harriet smiled and returned to her sewing. "Bertram has always seemed too wrapped up in business to care for girls. He likes to tease Linda and play with her, but her interests have all been apart from him. Henry and I have often talked about it, and said how nice it would be if they should care for each other. I should dislike to believe that he was the cause of our misfortunes; but Henry says that is the rumor and the general feeling. Even Father Radcliffe credits it, but I'm too loyal to Daddy to believe that a young man like Bertram could sway him." "I think," said Miss Barry, "that you girls should give him the interview he wants, and soon. He needs all the help he can get." "I know he does. I promised him we would see him to-morrow." Miss Belinda glanced up. "But you haven't Linda's consent." "She must consent. It will be good for her. It's what she needs, to have something she must do." "She's so fond of Mrs. Porter I thought she'd be glad to go home with me and join her, but she shrinks from everything like a sensitive plant." "She has leisure to think of what she wants, you see," returned Harriet. "I haven't. Perhaps she will come and make me a visit." "Well, you come back with me to the house this afternoon, anyway, and make the plan for to-morrow. I think an interview with Mr. King is just what Linda needs to make her sense what the poor fellow is going through." Accordingly, a little later Harriet donned her black street clothes, and accompanied her aunt to the house on the avenue. They found Linda in her room, stretched in a _chaise longue_ and looking out of the open window at the June sky. An incessant whirr of motors filled the spacious room.