“Yes, I know. You are shocked, of course. I shouldn't have told you. Still, it is all past long ago, and--I wanted to make you understand why I can't come. He was my husband's eldest brother--a bachelor. He was good and kind, and meant well, I suppose; but--he interfered with everything. I was young, and probably headstrong. At all events, there was constant friction. He went away once and stayed two whole months. I shall never forget the utter freedom and happiness of those months for us, with the whole house to ourselves. No, William, I can't come.” She rose abruptly and turned toward the door. Her eyes were wistful, and her face was still drawn with suffering; but her whole frail little self quivered plainly with high resolve. “John has Peggy outside. I must go.” “But--but, Aunt Hannah,” began William, helplessly. She lifted a protesting hand. “No, don't urge me, please. I can't come here. But--I believe I won't close the house till Billy gets home, after all,” she declared. The next moment she was gone, and William, dazedly, from the doorway, was watching John help her into Billy's automobile, called by Billy and half her friends, “Peggy,” short for “Pegasus.” Still dazedly William turned back into the house and dropped himself into the nearest chair. What a curious call it had been! Aunt Hannah had not acted like herself at all. Not once had she said “Oh, my grief and conscience!” while the things she _had_ said--! Someway, he had never thought of Aunt Hannah as being young, and a bride. Still, of course she must have been--once. And the reason she gave for not coming there to live--the pitiful story of that outsider in her home! But she was no outsider! She was no interfering brother of Billy's-- William caught his breath suddenly, and held it suspended. Then he gave a low ejaculation and half sprang from his chair. Spunkie, disturbed from her doze by the fire, uttered a purring “me-o-ow,” and looked up inquiringly. For a long minute William gazed dumbly into the cat's yellow, sleepily contented eyes; then he said with tragic distinctness: “Spunkie, it's true: Aunt Hannah isn't Billy's husband's brother, but--I am! Do you hear? I _am!_” “Pur-r-me-ow!” commented Spunkie; and curled herself for another nap.