No. 13 Washington Square | Page 9

heard you speaking with a man."
"You did." Miss Gardner was stiff, proudly erect, for she sensed what
might be coming.
"Where is he?"
"He went out through the window," said Miss Gardner.
"Ah, he did not want me to find out about you. But by chance I
overheard him say he was your husband."
"He is." Then with an effort: "But husband or no husband, Mrs. De
Peyster, I believe I would be of equal value--"
"I desire no scene, no argument," interrupted Mrs. De Peyster, dignified,

not a strident note in her voice--for she never lost her self-possession or
the true grand manner. "I believe you will remember, Miss Gardner,
that when you applied for your present position two months ago, I told
you that I made it a rule to have no servants or employees of any kind
who were married. As I desired that you should understand my reasons,
I informed you that I had once had a cook and a footman who were
married, and who paid so much attention to one another that they had
time to pay no attention to me. I then asked you if you were married.
You informed me you were not."
"And I was not, at that time."
"Indeed! Then you have married since. That makes your deception all
the worse. Remember, Miss Gardner, it was on the distinct
understanding that you were unmarried that I employed you. I have no
desire to pass judgment upon you. I try to be fair and just and generous
with all my employees. If you had been what you declared yourself to
be, and remained such, you could have stayed with me indefinitely.
Matilda there came to me as my son's nurse over twenty years ago, and
has been with me ever since--happy, as she will tell you, with no desire
to change her state whatever."
"N--no--none--none at all!"
Matilda hastily dropped her eyes. Mechanically her eyes noted the
rejected card Mr. Bradford had tendered Miss Gardner. Her long habit
of perfect orderliness, and perhaps the impulse to hide the slight
confusion that suddenly had seized upon her, prompted her to bend
over and secure this bit of litter. She glanced at it, would have put it in
the waste-basket had that receptacle not been across the room, then
thrust it into the capacious slit-pocket of her black skirt.
Mrs. De Peyster continued in her tone of exact justice: "Miss Gardner,
you have the perfect right to be married or unmarried. I have the perfect
right to have the sort of employees I prefer. But since you are not what
you declared yourself to be, I no longer require your service."
Miss Gardner bowed stiffly.

"Matilda, see that Miss Gardner is paid in full to the end of her month;
and also pay her one month in advance. And telephone about until you
can find me a maid--do not bother about the secretary part of it--a maid
who is not married, and who can come at once. That is all."
Matilda, still somewhat pale and agitated, started to follow out the
proud Miss Gardner, who gave a swift glance at the study door--while
Mrs. De Peyster looked on with her invariable calm majesty.

CHAPTER III
MISTRESS OF HER HOUSE
But at just this moment there was a smart rap at the library door, it was
partly opened, and a cheery masculine voice called out:--
"May I come in, mother?"
"You, Jack. You may," was the somewhat eager response from Mrs. De
Peyster.
The door swung entirely open, Miss Gardner stepped out, and there
entered a young man of twenty-two or three, good-natured confidence
in his manner, flawlessly dressed, with hands that were swathed in
bandages. He crossed limpingly to Mrs. De Peyster, who, her affection
now under control, stood regarding him with reproving and sternly
questioning eyes.
"Good-morning, mother,--glad to get back," he said, imprinting an
undaunted kiss upon her stately cheek.
Her reply was a continuance of her reproving look. The young man
turned to Mrs. De Peyster's faithful satellite.
"Hello, Olivetta. Hands out of commission. You'll have to shake my
elbow." And he held out his angled arm.

"Good-morning, Jack," responded Olivetta, in trepidation, hardly
daring to be gracious where Mrs. De Peyster had been cool.
Jack slipped an arm across Matilda's shoulders. "How are you, Matilda?
Glad to see you again."
"And I'm glad to see you again, Mr. Jack," returned Matilda, with a
look of stealthy affection.
"Please go, Matilda," said Mrs. De Peyster crisply. "And now, Jack,"
she continued with frigid dignity after Matilda had withdrawn, "I trust
that you will explain your absence, and your long silence."
"Certainly, mother," said Jack, pushing a slip-covered chair before the
fireplace--for an open wood fire burned here as in her sitting-room