"Oh, ain't he goin', too?" An indefinable change came to Mrs. Cobb's voice. "Oh, no, not with us," smiled Helen. "He's going to Alaska." "To--_Alaska_! And, pray, what's he chasin' off to a heathen country like that for?" "Tisn't heathen--Alaska isn't," flashed Helen, vaguely irritated without knowing why. "Heathen countries are--are always hot. Alaska's cold. Isn't Alaska up north--to the pole, 'most? It used to be, when I went to school." "Maybe 'tis; but that ain't sayin' why he's goin' there, instead of with you," retorted Mrs. Cobb. In spite of the bantering tone in which this was uttered, disapproval was plainly evident in Mrs. Cobb's voice. "He's going with his father," answered Helen, with some dignity. "His father! Humph!" This time the disapproval was so unmistakably evident that Helen flamed into prompt defense, in righteous, wifely indignation. "I don't know why you speak like that, Mrs. Cobb. Hasn't he got a right to go with his father, if he wants to? Besides, his father needs him. Burke says he does." "And _you_ don't need him, I s'pose," flamed Mrs. Cobb, in her turn, nettled that her sympathetic interest should meet with so poor a welcome. "Of course it's none of my business, Mis' Denby, but it seems a shame to me for him ter let you and the baby go off alone like this, and so I spoke right out. I always speak right out--what I think." Helen flushed angrily. However much she might find fault with her husband herself, she suddenly discovered a strong disinclination to allowing any one else to do so. Besides, now, when he and his father had been so kind and generous--! She had not meant to tell Mrs. Cobb of the ten-thousand-dollar check, lest it lead to unpleasant questioning as to why it was sent. But now, in the face of Mrs. Cobb's unjust criticism, she flung caution aside. "You're very kind," she began, a bit haughtily; "but, you see, this time you have made a slight mistake. I don't think it's a shame at all for him to go away with his father who needs him; and you won't, when you know what they've sent me. They sent me a check this afternoon for ten thousand dollars." "_Ten--thousand--dollars!_" "Yes," bowed Helen, with a triumphant "I-told-you-so" air, as Mrs. Cobb's eyes seemed almost to pop out of her head. "They sent it this very afternoon." "For the land's sake!" breathed Mrs. Cobb. Then, as her dazed wits began to collect themselves, a new look came to her eyes. "They _sent_ it?" she cried. "By special messenger--yes," bowed Helen, again importantly. "But how funny to _send_ it, instead of bringing it himself--your husband, I mean." Too late Helen saw her mistake. In a panic, now, lest unpleasant truths be discovered, she assumed an especially light, cheerful manner. "Oh, no, I don't think it was funny a bit. He--he wanted it a surprise, I guess. And he wrote--a letter, you know. A lovely letter, all about what a good time Baby and I could have with the money."