“All the same, I’m going,” she remarked, nodding her head at the back of the graceful figure sitting at the desk. “Newark isn’t so far away; I could go alone--or maybe take Maggie--she’d love it--’Start from the Oberon Theatre--at 2 P.M.--’ ‘H’m, I could have an early lunch and--’hidden in any part of the city--only mentally directed--not a word spoken--’ Just think of that, Eunice! It doesn’t seem credible that--oh, my goodness! tomorrow is Red Cross day! Well, I can’t help it; such a chance as this doesn’t happen twice. I wish I could coax Sanford--” “You can’t,” murmured Eunice, without looking up from her writing. “Then I’ll go alone!” Aunt Abby spoke with spirit, and her bright black eyes snapped with determination as she nodded her white head. “You can’t monopolize the willpower of the whole family, Eunice Embury!” “I don’t want to! But I can have a voice in the matters of my own house and family yes, and guests! I can’t spare Maggie to-morrow. You well know Sanford won’t go on any such wild goose chase with you, and I’m sure I won’t. You can’t go alone--and anyway, the whole thing is bosh and nonsense. Let me hear no more of it!” Eunice picked up her pen, but she cast a sidelong glance at her aunt to see if she accepted the situation. She did not. Miss Abby Ames was a lady of decision, and she had one hobby, for the pursuit of which she would attempt to overcome any obstacle. “You needn’t hear any more of it, Eunice,” she said, curtly. “I am not a child to be allowed out or kept at home! I shall go to Newark to-morrow to see this performance, and I shall go alone, and--” “You’ll do nothing of the sort! You’d look nice starting off alone on a railroad trip! Why, I don’t believe you’ve ever been to Newark in your life! Nobody has! It isn’t done!” Eunice was half whimsical, half angry, but her stormy eyes presaged combat and her rising color indicated decided annoyance. “Done!” cried her aunt. “Conventions mean nothing to me! Abby Ames makes social laws--she does not obey those made by others!” “You can’t do that in New York, Aunt Abby. In your old Boston, perhaps you had a certain dictatorship, but it won’t do here. Moreover, I have rights as your hostess, and I forbid you to go skylarking about by yourself.” “You amuse me, Eunice!” “I had no intention of being funny, I assure you.” “While not distinctly humorous, the idea of your forbidding me is, well--oh, my gracious, Eunice, listen to this: ‘The man chosen for Hanlon’s “guide” is the Hon. James L. Mortimer--’--h’m--’High Street--’ Why, Eunice, I’ve heard of Mortimer--he’s--” “I don’t care who he is, Aunt Abby, and I wish you’d drop the subject.” “I won’t drop it--it’s too interesting! Oh, my! I wish we could go out there in the big car--then we could follow him round--” “Hush! Go out to Newark in the car! Trail round the streets and alleys after a fool mountebank! With a horde of gamins and low, horrid men crowding about--” “They won’t be allowed to crowd about!”