Gussie was not pleased over the fact that Dexie had to “waste all the morning over those old papers,” though she had not dared to remonstrate in Mr. Hackett’s hearing, for she stood very much in awe of the lynx-eyed lawyer, who seemed to read her through and through with his keen grey eyes.

“How much longer are you going to be over those papers, I’d like to know?” she said, as she heard the front door close behind him.  “The idea of you sitting there, and the dishes not washed yet!”

“Well, Gussie, you might have washed them before this; you have had plenty of time.  I must put away these papers while I have them sorted out; then I will do what I can in the kitchen.  Try to manage till I am done, Gussie; I won’t be long now,” and she looked up with a smile, as she tied a package of MSS. together and laid it away snugly in the drawer.

“You can finish those papers after you see to your work,” said Gussie authoritatively.  “You need not think you are going to be allowed to sit here all the afternoon, for Mr. Hackett left mamma a lot of money, and I guess we’ll see who is going to run the house after this.”

“Well, Gussie, that last remark of yours suggests good news,” said Dexie, with a good-humored smile.  “I will be delighted, indeed, if someone will take my place, for I feel sadly in need of a rest.”

“Oh!  I did not say you were to give up any part of the work!  I guess you’ll have to do that, whether you want to or not; but mamma says that I am to be the housekeeper and do the ordering after this,” and there was a triumphant ring in her tone.

“Well, I was afraid that you would never care to do that, Gussie, and I am glad to see you are willing to undertake the difficult task; but the woman that Mr. Hackett is sending us cannot come for two weeks, so we must look up someone to do the work until she comes.  Janet Robinson goes out by the day; I think we had better send for her.”

“Well, the idea!  Hire a girl so you can sit in the parlor with Traverse, I suppose!  You managed well enough since Eliza left, and I guess you will get no chance to play the lady in this house!  The kitchen is your place, and that is all you are fit for!”

“Then I throw up the situation from this moment!” said Dexie, hotly, thoroughly aroused at last.  “It is quite time I turned my attention to something higher—­to the making of blue or green dogs on canvas, for instance!  Hire a servant to wait on you before night, for I will not step my foot into the kitchen again!  I’ll find something to do in a more congenial latitude,” and Dexie thrust the remaining papers into the desk in startling confusion, locking the several drawers with a snap.

As Gussie left the room she rose to her feet, intending to send word to Guy to come and take her away, but, as she turned about, he caught her in his strong arms and held her close to him.

“Oh, Guy! how long have you been here?” and she burst into tears.