"Well, of all the fellows! What's the matter with you?" He was fresh and rosy; a faint, wholesome aroma of cigars and eau-de-cologne swept in with him. "Why the deuce aren't you down to see us off? They're all there. Got my telegram yesterday? Fire didn't amount to much, but the fools hadn't half the stuff I ordered. I was down there all the afternoon seeing to it. I sent Bob right around to you. You must have walked him well. Stevens said he came in at eight and tumbled straight to bed. He's fresh as paint this morning. Asked him where he'd been, and I swear he didn't know. Says you told him to go to bed, and he went. Drove home, he says. Actually doesn't remember a living thing but that, since dinner. When you said he'd be that way sometimes I didn't really believe you, but I do now. Where were you?" Dillon faced him. "For God's sake, Lawrence, what is it? Are you sick? She said you wouldn't be there----" "She? Who?" "The old one--the aunt. Bob was wondering about it, and she says directly, 'No, he won't be here this morning,' so I slipped off. Bob said if you were tired, never mind. "I say, Lawrence, that's an awfully attractive boy. You can't help liking him. He called me aside, and, 'Look here,' says he, 'Uncle Owen says there's to be no wine packed for you. Now I can't have that, Stebbins, it won't do. It's awfully bully of you to come, and you must have everything you want.' I told him that would be all right and what a fine vacation it was going to be for me----" Lawrence turned the water into the tub and began to pull at his shoes. Never had he felt so grateful for Stebbins's constant chatter. "I don't believe I'll come down," he heard himself say. "I have a beastly headache. I didn't get much sleep----" "Well, for heaven's sake get some, if it makes you look like that! Where'd you go, anyway, after you put Bob to bed?" Lawrence pulled off his coat. "Parson's down there, you know. He and uncle seem to be hand in glove. He's pretty well fixed with most of the family, I shouldn't wonder." "How much time have you got?" said Lawrence's voice. "George, not much! Cab's waiting outside. I won't mention how you look, then--just tell 'em good-bye." "That's all. Just tell 'em good-bye." Lawrence was in the bath-room as Stebbins hurried out. He sat down on the porcelain rim of the tub, his face drawn and grey above his white shirt. "It seems to be pretty well settled up," he said quietly. "I hope his mother's pleased!" A LITTLE BROTHER OF THE BOOKS The new librarian entered upon her duties bright and early Monday morning. She closed with a quick snap the little wicket-gate that separated the books from the outer vestibule, briskly arranged her paste-tube, her dated stamp, and her box of slips, and summoned her young assistant sharply. The assistant was reading _Molly Bawn_ and eating caramels, and she shut book and bag quickly, wiping her mouth as she hurried to her superior.