things and left. I found her, half an hour later, in her little
bedroom, which was ice-cold, coughing and crying over her sums, which
she was trying to work at the bureau. That was how I found out about it.
The child would never have said a word to me."
"How simply outrageous!" said the girl, and became silent and
thoughtful.
"Well, what do you think I'd better do, Sharlee?"
"I think you'd better let me waylay him in the hall after supper and
tell him that the time has come when he must either pay up or pack up."
"My dear! Can you well be as blunt as that?"
"Dear Aunt Jennie, as I view it, you are not running an eleemosynary
institution here?"
"Of course not," replied Aunt Jennie, who really did not know whether
she was or not.
Sharlee dropped into a chair and began manicuring her pretty little
nails. "The purpose of this establishment is to collect money from the
transient and resident public. Now you're not a bit good at collecting
money because you're so well-bred, but I'm not so awfully well-bred--"
"You _are_--"
"I'm bold--blunt--brazen! I'm forward. I'm resolute and grim. In short,
I belong to the younger generation which you despise so--"
"I don't despise _you_, you dear--"
"Come," said Sharlee, springing up; "let's go down. I'm wild to meet Mr.
Bylash again. Is he wearing the moleskin vest to-night, do you know? I
was fascinated by it the last time I was here. Aunt Jennie, what is the
name of this young man--the one I may be compelled to bounce?"
"His name is Queed. Did you ever--?"
"Queed? _Queed_? Q-u-e-e-d?"
"An odd name, isn't it? There were no such people in my day."
"Probably after to-morrow there will be none such once more."
"Mr. Klinker has christened him the little Doctor--a hit at his
appearance and studious habits, you see--and even the servants have
taken it up."
"Aunt Jennie," said Sharlee at the door, "when you introduce the little
Doctor to me, refer to me as your business woman, won't you? Say 'This
is my niece, Miss Weyland, who looks after my business affairs for me,'
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