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when you’re living here in our house, just making a convenience of us? You haven’t any expenses, you know you haven’t. And anyway, you can charge new clothes. You know Mother always says you can. Besides, you don’t need any new clothes while we are away. There’ll be nobody here. What would you want new clothes for? And you never go to parties.”
    “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, Clytie, but I really can’t let you have any money this time. Why don’t you ask your father for some? I think that would be better, don’t you? I can’t always spare it. And Clytie, I always pay my board, you know. My father arranged for that, and this time I paid for the time you are to be away. So I haven’t as much as usual. No, really, I mean it. I can’t spare even a dollar.”
    Clytie, with her most unamiable expression, stared in affront at her cousin.
    “Well, I think you are the most unaccommodating—”
    And just then Clytie’s mother called.
    “Clytie, why don’t you come? I’m waiting for you to measure this skirt. Hurry!”
    Clytie turned away hurriedly and murmured in a fierce anger, “Well, I’ll see that you’re good and sorry for this!” Slamming the door, she hurried down the stairs.
    It was a busy day, and Astra had little time to think about her money. There were so many little last things that Cousin Miriam wanted done. There were hems to be shortened, collars to be washed out, stockings to mend. The items seemed endless, and Astra took them all up to her room to do, out of the hurry and turmoil of downstairs. There was no chance for Clytie to annoy her, for Clytie was sent on several errands herself, and as usual, did not return soon.
    Astra sat up very late finishing the mending for Miriam, and all day she had kept an eye on the third-story stairs which led to her room; she was sure Clytie had had no chance to get up there without being seen.
    For Clytie had a way of mauling over Astra’s ribbons and collars and gloves, and calmly appropriating anything that was to her liking, and it wasn’t in the least unlikely that she would attempt such a raid at the last minute. So Astra lay down to sleep the night before they left with relief, knowing that nothing had been attempted that night at least, and there would be very little time for anything of the sort in the morning.
    They were all at breakfast when Clytie entered with a frown on her brow.
    “Mother, did you see those lovely new Pullman slippers I brought home yesterday? I thought I took them up to my room to put in my suitcase, but I can’t find them anywhere. Astra, did you take them away? If you call that a joke, I think it’s a poor time to pull it off, just as we’re starting.”
    “Clytie, that’s no way to speak to your cousin,” said her father, albeit with an indulgence in his voice that did not trouble Clytie.
    “Well, I can’t help it. I want those slippers, and I intend to have them! You might at least come upstairs and help me find them, Astra!” She darted an angry look at Astra and dashed out of the room and upstairs.
    Astra listened and heard her footsteps going up the second flight, then she rose to follow.
    “No,” said Miriam, “don’t go, Astra. Eat your breakfast and then run down to the shoe shop for me. I left a pair of shoes there to have the heels straightened, and I need them.”
    “But Miriam, you haven’t time to go after things. It’s almost time we started,” said her husband.
    “Oh, I think we have. Hurry, Astra, you can make it, I’m sure. They are the only really comfortable shoes I have for walking.”
    “Well, why didn’t you attend to them before?”
    Astra swallowed the rest of her breakfast in haste and got herself down to the shoe shop in a hurry. When she came rushing back with the shoes, the car was already at the door, and her cousin Duke stood impatiently beside it, looking anxiously up toward the house.
    Miriam came out presently, and after a sharp call from her father, Clytie