Somewhere toward the end of this long talk, "I've not said a word yet, Mr. Lindsay," Susannah interpolated timidly, "of how grateful I am to you--and your cousin. But it's mainly because I've not had the strength yet. I don't know how I'm going to repay you. I don't know how I'm even going to tell you. What I owe you--just in money--let alone eternal gratitude." "Now, that's all arranged," Lindsay said smoothly. "You don't know what a find you were. You're an angel from heaven. You're a Christmas present in July. For a long time I've realized that I needed a secretary. Somebody's got to help me on Lutetia's life or I'll never get it done. Who better qualified than Lutetia's own niece? In fact you will not only be secretary but collaborator. As soon as you're well enough, we'll go to work every morning and we'll work together until it's done." Susannah leaned back, snuggled into the soft recess of the comfortable chair. She dropped her lids over the dazzling brilliancy of her eyes. "I suppose I ought to say no. I suppose I ought to have some proper pride about accepting so much kindness. I suppose I ought to show some firmness of mind, pawn all my possessions and get back to work in New York or Boston. Girls in novels always do those things. But I know I shall do none of them. I shall say yes. For I haven't been so happy since Glorious Lutie died." "Oh," Lindsay exclaimed quickly as though glad to reduce this dangerous emotional excitement. "There comes the lost Anna Sophia Stockbridge. She's a dandy. I think you'll like her. It's awfully hard not to." * * * * * The instant Susannah had disappeared with Miss Stockbridge up the stairs, Mrs. Spash appeared in the Long Room. Apparently, she came with a definite object--an object in no way connected with the futile dusting movements she began to emit. Lindsay watched her. Suddenly Mrs. Spash's eyes came up; met his. They gazed at each other a long moment; a gaze that was luminous with question and answer. "She's gone," Lindsay announced after a while. Mrs. Spash nodded briskly. "She'll never come back," Lindsay added. Again Mrs. Spash nodded briskly. "They've all gone," Lindsay stated. For the third time Mrs. Spash briskly nodded. "When Cherie came, _they_ left," Lindsay concluded. "They'd done what they wanted to do," Mrs. Spash vouchsafed. "Brought you and Cherry together. So there was no need. She took them away. She'd admire to stay. That's like her. But she don't want to make the place seem--well, _queer_. So, as she allus did, she gives up her wish." "Mrs. Spash," Lindsay exploded suddenly after a long pause, "we've _never_ seen them. You understand we've never seen them; either of us. They never were here." Mrs. Spash nodded for the fourth time. * * * * *