"What can I do, Mother?"
"I need some money. Since Willie's death last winter I've thought nothing of my dresses for the next season. I must begin to attend to them. I need a thousand dollars."
"To-day?"
"Yes."
He looked at her with a twinkle playing around the corner of his eyes as he slowly rose:
"Send Phœbe in for the check."
"Ring for her, please."
He pulled the old-fashioned red cord vigorously, walked back to the lounge, put his hands in his pockets and looked at his wife in a comical way.
"Mother," he said at last, "you're a very subtle woman. You'd make a great diplomat if you didn't talk quite so much."