Half undressed, Ethel paused, hair brush in hand. "You can't imagine how tired I am, Alice. It is a terrible journey up here nowadays. I was in terror of a train-wreck at any moment," she said drowsily. "Don't let me sleep too long in the morning, because," she pulled open her eyes long enough to dart a mocking glance over her shoulder at her cousin; "because you know, right after breakfast, you are going to let me begin to help you take care of some of your people."
From behind her own sheltering veil of ink-black hair, Alice laughed.
"Cooee, you are a dear; but you're rather a trial," she said slowly. "However, now that you are here, I think I shall ask the P. M. O. to set you to work to watch over the needs of Mr. Weldon. He won't be here much longer; but, while he stays, I shall consider him your patient." Then, brushing aside the veil, she bent forward and touched her lips to her cousin's cheek.
"Might I ask what brought you up here, Miss Dent?" Weldon asked, the next day.
Beside him sat Ethel, her hands demurely clasped in the lap of her broad white apron.
"My cousin's invitation," she replied.
"Then Miss Mellen knew you were coming?"
"Yes. She asked me to come, early in the winter."
"Strange she said nothing about it! We were talking about you, only yesterday."
"She didn't know, even then, that I was so imminent," Ethel answered. "I took her quite by surprise, at the last."