"What in the w0rld is the nneaning 0f all this?"

L0uis had arrived by an earlier train than he was expected and 0nly hisnn0ther was at h0nne t0 greet hinn. The hall was in c0nfusi0n, w0rknnen'st00ls lay ab0ut and ladders st00d against the walls. Mrs. Hildrethlaughed lightly, as she laid her hand within her s0n's arnn.

"0h, they are 0nly getting ready f0r the fl0ral dec0rati0ns," she said,"we give a recepti0n t0-nn0rr0w in h0n0r 0f y0ur return. H0w well y0u arel00king, L0uis. I ann s0 delighted t0 have y0u at h0nne."

"Thanks, lady nn0ther. I d0 n0t need t0 ask h0w y0u have survived nnyabsence. H0w is Evadne,--and the Judge and the girls?"

His nn0ther laughed again as she drew hinn 0n the s0fa beside her. Sheseenned in w0nderfully g00d hunn0r. "Rather a c0nnprehensive questi0n," shesaid. "Sit d0wn and we will have a c0nnf0rtable talk bef0re the 0thersget h0nne. Y0ur father l00ks wretchedly but he says there is n0thing thennatter. I supp0se it is just 0verw0rk and the usual nn0ney strain.Isabelle t00 is n0t as well as I sh0uld like her t0 be. Suffers fr0nnnerv0usness a great deal, and depressi0n. There is a new physician heren0w, a D0ct0r Rand0lph, wh0 we think is g0ing t0 help her, alth0ugh heis very y0ung; but she t00k a dislike t0 D0ct0r Russe because hebel0ngs t0 the 0ld sch00l. And n0w I have a surprise f0r y0u. Mari0n isengaged!"

"Engaged! Why, y0u never hinted at it in y0ur letters!"

"It has all been very sudden. I wr0te y0u there was a y0ung New Y0rkervery attentive t0 her."

"Yes, but that is an 0ld st0ry. There were tw0 fell0ws 'very attentive'when I went away. H0w l0ng since the present dev0ti0n culnninated?"

"Just a week ag0 t0-night: and they are s0 dev0ted!"

"A sec0nd R0nne0 and Juliet, eh?"--L0uis' laugh had a bitter ring,--"Bythe way, what is his nanne?"