The Fifth Wheel

Well-what of that? Hadn't I more right there? Wasn't I Alec's own sister? Wasn't I born under the very roof to which I was now asked not to come? Weren't all my things t

somewhere, or at least find a bed in a public ward. "Sorry, Miss Vars," came the answer finally to me over the lon

some celebrated doctor of science and his wife, who were to be her guests during this very week. She has but one guest room. I couldn't turn around and go back to Wisconsin. I couldn't go to Oliver, now married to Madge. They l

later, I meekly passed my telegram to Mrs. Morgan and asked

t I have telephoned Henrietta's friends in Orange to come over to take your place. We had not told you that tickets for the theater tonight and mati

of hooks and eyes, and a pin-cushion with threaded needles stuck in it. The bed was uncomfortable. I crawled into it, and lay very still. My heart was filled with bitterness. My eyes rested on the skeleton of a dressmaker's form. A man's shirt ripped up the back hung over a chair. I staid for three days in that room! Mrs.

Even Henrietta was allowed to spea

d I'd never forgive myself if the other two girls caught anything here. I've forbidden Henrietta t

r arms wide if she had guessed-of course she would. I ought to have gone in the beginning. I poured out my story into that old doctor's understanding ears, and he opened the way for me finally. He let me escape. Very weak and wob

for Edith's anxious face, or for Alec's-they would be disturbed when they heard I had a fever, they might be alarmed-but I couldn't find them. The mot

Hello, that

is this?"

I answer

the world are yo

at the station. Just arrived. I'm

imers, and we've just got to have it. I'm awfully sorry, but do you mind taking the car, or a carriage? I'm right in the midst of dressing. I've got to hurry like mad. It's almost h

r a long wait a maid I had never seen before let me in. Edith resplendent in a brand n

sh I could kiss you, Honey, but I can't. I've just finished my lips.

d," I

s very morning. You weren't peeved, were you, Toots, about my telegram, I mean? I was right in the midst of the most important house-party I've ever had. As it was I had too many girls, and at the last minute had to telegraph Malco

lied, mingled emo

"There's your telegram now. Did y

ly near the door, and I opened it before he rang, receiv

said I was coming. That's all. It didn't matter much

house-parties I'm having, and you not here half the time. I knew you wouldn't mind, and the high-boy is so stunning!" We had gone upstairs and were approaching it now. "I put all your underclothes in those long shallow drawers; and your ribbons and gloves and things in these deep, low ones. And then up here in the top I've laid carefully all the truck you had stowed away in that little old white enameled desk of yours. The desk I put up in the store

tle sacred precinct had been entered in my absence and robbed of every vestige of me. Instead of my single four-poster were two mahogany sleigh beds, spread with expensively embroidered linen. Instead of my magazine cut of Robert Louis Stevenson pinned beside the east window was a signed etching. Instead of my own familiar desk welc

Somehow, down behind the kitchen stove he had sensed me, and his little dog heart was bursting with welcome. Only Dandy had really missed me, sitting long, patient hours at a time at the living-room window, watching for me to come up the drive; and finally starting out on mysterious night se

e to me, and wondered what it would be like if