THEIR FORTUNATE ESCAPE 93 



it has not always been thus, while the fingers inad- 

 vertently stray over one's attire, plucking a shred here 

 and a thread there. Even flowers can be arranged in a 

 vase so as to look thoroughly and reproachfully uncom- 

 fortable, and all the grace and meaning crushed out of 

 them. But Maria Maxwell has the touch gracious that 

 makes even a plainly furnished room hold out detaining 

 hands as you go through, and the flowers on the greeting 

 table in the hall (yes, Lavinia Cortright taught me that 

 little fancy of yours during her first visit), though 

 much the same as I had been gathering for a week 

 past, .wore an air of novelty ! 



For a moment we stood at the foot of the stairs look- 

 ing about and getting our bearings, as guests in an 

 unfamiliar place rather than householders. It flitted 

 through my body that I was hungry, and one of the 

 "must be's" of the vacation country was that we were 

 to forage for breakfast. At the same time Bart saun- 

 tered unconsciously toward the mail- box under the hat- 

 rack and then, suddenly putting his hands behind him, 

 turned to me with a quizzical expression, saying: "Let- 

 ters are forbidden, I know, but how about the paper? 

 Even the 'Weekly Tribune' would be something; you 

 know that sheet was devised for farmers!" 



" If this vacation isn't to be a punishment, but a pleas- 



