The laughter was caused by Howard's displeasure at Fred's story of some rudeness to which she had been subjected in canvassing for Smith--"The Woman's Candidate." "If I'd been there, I'd have punched the cop's head!" he said, angrily. Fred shrieked at his absurdity. "If he'd said it to _you_, you'd only think it was funny; and what's fun for the gander, is fun for--" "No, it isn't," he said, bluntly. "Howard," Laura broke in, "do tell Freddy the news!" "It isn't much," he said, modestly; "I'm ordered off; that's all." "Ordered off?" Fred repeated; "where?" "Philippines," Laura said. "Government expedition. Shells and things. Starts Wednesday." "I've wanted to go ever since I was a kid," Howard explained. "It's the Coast Survey, and I've been pulling legs all winter for a berth, and now I've got it. I came in to see you pipe your eye with grief at my departure." "Grief? Good riddance! You lost me a client, taking me out to see those fool flats in Dawsonville. Have another cigarette. Lolly, how about you?" "No," Laura sighed. "Billy-boy would have a fit if I smoked." She looked at Fred a little enviously. "I'm crazy to," she confessed. "Oh, don't," Maitland said; "it isn't your style, Laura." "Howard, do you really start Wednesday?" Fred said, soberly. He nodded. "It's great luck." "You'll have the time of your life," Laura assured him; "why do men have all the fun, Freddy?" "Because we've been such fools to let 'em." "Ladies wouldn't find it much fun--wading round in the mud," Howard protested. "They ought to have the chance to wade round, if they want to!" Fred said--and paused: (was that Miss Carter, bringing Mortimore? Her breath caught with horror. She was sure she heard the lurching footsteps. No; all was silent in the upper hall). Howard did not notice her preoccupation; he was pouring out his plans, Laura punctuating all he said with cries of admiration and envy. ("I'll _die_ if Morty comes in!" Frederica was saying to herself.) [Illustration: HOWARD DID NOT NOTICE HER PREOCCUPATION. HE WAS POURING OUT HIS PLANS, LAURA PUNCTUATING ALL HE SAID WITH CRIES OF ADMIRATION AND ENVY] "You've got to write to me, Fred," Maitland charged her; "I haven't any relations--'no one to love me.' Do write me the news once in a while." "You're off day after to-morrow?" she repeated, vaguely; it came over her, in the midst of that tense listening for the shuffling step on the stairs, that she would not see him again--he would go away, and she would not have had a word alone with him! She felt, suddenly, that she could not bear it. For a moment she forgot Mortimore. "If you don't go up-stairs and say how-do-you-do to Mother, Laura," she said, abruptly, "you'll get yourself disliked. And your mother is in the sitting-room, too." Even if Miss Carter and Morty appeared, she couldn't have Howard leave her like this!