COMMUTER'S WIFE 151 



"As to hardwood floors, father has them under 

 ban, for in a year he has traced two compound leg 

 fractures, a broken arm, collar bone, and an obsti- 

 nate case of water on the knee, to polished floors. 

 Besides, very soon there won't be any best parlour. 

 It's to be our den, with plants and only the lightest 

 of frilly muslins at the windows and fresh matting 

 under the rugs. In fact, I'm going to banish all 

 carpets as soon as possible and have thickly lined 

 matting and rugs everywhere." 



" It's plain that you are set in your ways already, 

 and don't wish my advice or value it," said Aunt 

 Lot finally, rising bonnet in hand as if to go, quite 

 in a huff, " but one thing more I must free my mind 

 of. You'll find your husband will get many a hard 

 cold coming up in those hot cars on stormy winter 

 nights, besides losing business by never meeting 

 people in the evening." 



"Evan belongs to a club where he has a room 

 that he can use when weather or necessity requires," 

 I answered, boiling so internally that I am afraid 

 my voice shook. 



"Humph! I shouldn't have expected that he 

 would have laid plans to deliberately stay away 

 from you so soon." 



"Stop, Aunt Lot! The plan was father's, and 



