“Will you kindly excuse me for half an hour? I hope I shall be quite myself again by that time.” Madam bowed coldly, and Evelyn stared rudely at her, while Salome, with an almost breaking heart, turned and fled up to her own room, to battle alone with her heavy grief. Madam and Miss Winthrop went slowly back to the library. “Well, mamma, this is a queer state of affairs,” the young lady remarked, as she carefully closed the door, so as to prevent any one hearing their conversation. “It is, truly,” said her mother thoughtfully. “You understand, mamma, we are to be that girl’s guests, and she is to have unlimited authority,” continued Miss Winthrop, with a sneer. “That means, I suppose, that she is to manage everything her own way, and to spend his money as lavishly as she chooses—and she will choose if one can judge by the way she dresses. It means, too, that, if we wish to entertain any of our friends we are to go to her for permission; if we wish to drive, we will be expected to say, ‘By your leave,’ before we can have the carriage.” “Yes, Truman evidently wished us to understand that she was to be mistress here,” madam thoughtfully returned, “but,” with a proud uplifting of her head, and compressing her lips tightly, “a mother has certain rights in the home of her son, and I intend to assert them.” “I am just dying to know who she is, and all about her,” said Evelyn, with a frown. “And I mean to know, before Truman returns,” rejoined madam resolutely, adding, “His enforced absence will give us a fine opportunity to make all the inquiries that we desire.” “Do you imagine that you will be any the wiser afterward?” inquired Evelyn, with a malicious laugh. “If I am not mistaken, the little lady has considerable spirit and dignity of her own, and she will not be easily pumped regarding her family history.” “We shall see,” quietly responded her mother, but with a look in her eye that spoke volumes. An hour later Salome reappeared, looking a little pale, but bright and smiling, having resolutely conquered her grief, or rather controlled all outward manifestations of it, and determined to show her guests all due courtesy and attention. She was hardly seated with some pretty fancy work in her hands, when Nellie appeared, saying that the coachman wanted to know if she would drive as usual. “Are you two ladies too weary to drive to-day?” Salome asked, turning graciously to her companions. “Oh, no; we intended to go for a drive by and by,” madam composedly responded. “Have you any choice as to time?” inquired the young hostess. “Yes; it would be well for us to go soon, while the sun is bright and warm.” “Then, Nellie, you may tell Dick to bring the close double carriage in about half an hour——” Salome began, when she was interrupted by Madame Winthrop, who said authoritatively: “No, Nellie, tell him to bring around the barouche. I never ride in a close carriage.”