“You won’t give it to me?”

“My dear Lulu, in all kindness—­no.”

His Ina came running back, bearing handkerchiefs with different coloured borders for him to choose from.  He chose the initial that she had embroidered, and had not the good taste not to kiss her.

* * * * *

They were all on the porch that evening, when Lulu came downstairs.

“Where are you going?” Ina demanded, sisterly.  And on hearing that Lulu had an errand, added still more sisterly; “Well, but mercy, what you so dressed up for?”

Lulu was in a thin black and white gown which they had never seen, and wore the tilting hat with the red wing.

“Ninian bought me this,” said Lulu only.

“But, Lulu, don’t you think it might be better to keep, well—­out of sight for a few days?” Ina’s lifted look besought her.

“Why?” Lulu asked.

“Why set people wondering till we have to?”

“They don’t have to wonder, far as I’m concerned,” said Lulu, and went down the walk.

Ina looked at Dwight.  “She never spoke to me like that in her life before,” she said.

She watched her sister’s black and white figure going erectly down the street.

“That gives me the funniest feeling,” said Ina, “as if Lulu had on clothes bought for her by some one that wasn’t—­that was—­”

“By her husband who has left her,” said Dwight sadly.

“Is that what it is, papa?” Di asked alertly.  For a wonder, she was there; had been there the greater part of the day—­most of the time staring, fascinated, at her Aunt Lulu.

“That’s what it is, my little girl,” said Dwight, and shook his head.

“Well, I think it’s a shame,” said Di stoutly.  “And I think Uncle Ninian is a slunge.”

“Di!”

“I do.  And I’d be ashamed to think anything else.  I’d like to tell everybody.”

“There is,” said Dwight, “no need for secrecy—­now.”

“Dwight!” said Ina—­Ina’s eyes always remained expressionless, but it must have been her lashes that looked so startled.

“No need whatever for secrecy,” he repeated with firmness.  “The truth is, Lulu’s husband has tired of her and sent her home.  We must face it.”

“But, Dwight—­how awful for Lulu....”

“Lulu,” said Dwight, “has us to stand by her.”

Lulu, walking down the main street, thought: 

“Now Mis’ Chambers is seeing me.  Now Mis’ Curtis.  There’s somebody behind the vines at Mis’ Martin’s.  Here comes Mis’ Grove and I’ve got to speak to her....”

One and another and another met her, and every one cried out at her some version of: 

“Lulu Bett!” Or, “W-well, it isn’t Lulu Bett any more, is it?  Well, what are you doing here?  I thought....”

“I’m back to stay,” she said.

“The idea!  Well, where you hiding that handsome husband of yours?  Say, but we were surprised!  You’re the sly one—­”