"S is for Shiftless Susanna"

by Kathleen Norris

"You look glorious. What's the special programme you've laid out forthis morning, Sue?" said Susanna's husband, coming upon her in herrose garden early on a certain perfect October morning."I feel glorious too" young Mrs. Fairfax said, returning his kissand dropping basket and scissors to bestow all her attention uponhis buttonhole rose. "There is no special occasion for all thisextravagance," she added, giving a complacent downward glance at thefilmy embroideries of her gown, and her small whiteshod feet. "Infact, to-day breaks before me a long and delicious blank. I don'tknow when I have had such a Saturday. I shall write letters thismorning--or perhaps wash my hair--I don't know. And then I'll takeMrs. Elliot for a drive this afternoon, or take some fruit to theBurkes, maybe, and stop for tea at the club. And if you decide todine in town, I'll have Emma set my dinner out on the porch andcommence my new Locke. And if you can beat that programme for sheeridle bliss," said Susanna, "let me hear you do it!"She finished fastening his rose, stepped back to survey it, andraised to his eyes her own joyous, honest blue eyes, which stillwere as candid as a nice child's. Jim Fairfax, keenly alive to thedelight of it, even after six months of marriage, kissed her again."You know, Jim," said Susanna, when they were presently saunteringwith their load of roses toward the house and breakfast, "apropos ofthis new dress, I believe I put it on just because there was no realreason for it. It is so delightful sometimes to get into daintypetties, and silk stockings, and a darling new gown, just as amatter of course! All my life, you know, I've had just one goodoutfit at a time, and sometimes less than that, and all the things Iwore every day were so awfully plain--!""I know, my darling," Jim said, a little gravely. For he was alwayssorry to remember that there had been long years of poverty andstruggle in Susanna's life before the day when he had found her, anunderpaid librarian in a dark old law library, in a dark old street.Susanna, buoyant, ambitious, and overworked, had never stopped inher hard daily round long enough to consider herself pitiful, butshe could look back from her rose garden now to the days before sheknew Jim, and join him in a little shudder of reminiscence."I don't believe a long, idle day will ever seem anything but ajoyous holiday to me," she said now. "It seems so curious still, notto be expected anywhere every morning!""Well, you may as well get used to it," Jim told her smilingly. Buta few minutes later, when Susanna was busy with the coffee-pot, helooked up from a letter to say: "Here's a job for you, after all,to-day, Sue! This--" and he flattened the crackling sheets besidehis plate, "this is from old Thayer.""Thayer himself?" Susanna echoed appreciatively. For old WhitmanThayer, in whose hands lay the giving of contracts far larger thanany that had as yet been handled by Jim or his senior partners inthe young firm of Reid, Polk & Fairfax, Architects, was naturally anenormously important figure in his and Susanna's world. They spokeof Thayer nearly every night, Jim reporting to his interested wifethat Thayer had "come in," or "hadn't come in," that Thayer had"seemed pleased," that Thayer had "jumped" on this, or had "beentickled to death" with that; and the Fairfax domestic barometervaried accordingly."Go on, Jim," said Susanna, in suspense."Why, it seems that his wife--she's awfully sweet and nice," Jimproceeded, "is coming into town this afternoon, and she wonders ifit would be too much trouble for Mrs. Fairfax to come in and lunchwith her and help her with some shopping.""Jim, it doesn't say that!" But Susanna's eyes were kindling withjoy at the thought. "Oh, Jim, what a chance! Doesn't that look as ifhe really liked you!""Liked you, you mean," Jim said, giving her the letter. "Now I callthat a very friendly, decent thing for them to do," young Mr.Fairfax went on musingly. "If you and she like each other, Sue--""Oh, don't worry, we will!" Mrs. Fairfax was always sure of hertouch upon a feminine heart."Wonder why he didn't think of Mrs. Reid or Mrs. Polk?" said Jim."Oh, Jim, they are sort of--stiff, don't you know?" Susanna returnedto her coffee, seasoning Jim's cup carefully before she added, witha look of naive pleasure that Jim thought very charming: "You know Irather thought that Mr. Thayer liked me just that one day I sawhim!""Well, you'll like her," Jim prophesied. "She's very sweet andgentle, not very strong. They live right up the line theresomewhere. She rarely comes into town. Old Thayer is devoted to her,and he always seems--" Jim hesitated. "I don't know," he went on, "Imay be all wrong about this, Sue, but Thayer always seems to beprotecting her, don't you know? I don't imagine he'd want to run herup against society women like Jane Reid and Mrs. Polk. You'reyounger and less affected; you're approachable. I don't know, but itseems to me that way. Anyway," he finished with supremesatisfaction, "I wouldn't take anything in the world for thischance! It shows the old man is really in earnest.""He says she'll be at the office at eleven," said Susanna. "Thatmeans I must get the ten twenty-two.""Sure. And take a taxi when you get to town. Got money? Got theright clothes?""Hydrangea hat," Susanna decided aloud. "New pongee, and pongee coathung in careless elegance over my arm. As the last chime of elevenrings I will step into your office--""I hope to goodness you will!" said Jim, with an anxious look."You'll really get there, won't you, Sue? No slips?"This might have seemed overemphatic to an unprejudiced outsider. Butno one who really knew Susanna would have blamed her young husbandfor an utter disbelief in the likelihood of her getting anywhere atany given time. Susanna's one glaring fault was a cheerfulindifference to the fixed plans of others. Engagements she forgot,ignored, or cancelled at the last minute; dinner guests, arriving ather lovely home, never dreamed how often the consternation of uttersurprise was hidden under the hilarious greetings of hostess andhost. Dressmakers and dentists charged Susanna mercilessly forforgotten appointments; but an adoring circle of friends had formeda sort of silent conspiracy to save her from herself, and sociallyshe suffered much less than she deserved."But some day you'll get an awful jolt; you'll get the lesson ofyour life, Sue," Jim used to say, and Susanna always answeredmeekly:"Oh, Jim, I know it!""My mother used to have a nursery rhyme about me," she told Jim onone occasion. "It was one of those 'A is for Amiable Annie' things,you know; 'K is for Kind little Katie, whose weight is one hundredand eighty'--you've heard them, of course? Well, 'S was forShiftless Susanna.' I know the next line was, 'But such was thecharm of her manner'--but I've forgotten the rest. Whether mothermade that up for my especial benefit or not, I don't know.""Well, you have the charm all right," Jim was obliged to confess,for Susanna had an undeniable genius for adjustment and placation.Nobody was angry long at Susanna, perhaps because so many otherpeople were always ready to step in gladly and fill any gaps in herprogramme. She was too popular to be snubbed. And her excuses werealways so reasonable!"You know I simply lose my mind at the telephone," she would plead."I accept anything then--it never occurs to me that we may haveengagements!" Or, "Well, the Jacksons said Thursday," she wouldbrilliantly elucidate, "and Mrs. Oliver said the twentieth, and itnever occurred to me that it was the same day!"And she was always willing--this was the maddening part of Susanna!--to own herself entirely in the wrong, and always ended anyconversation on the subject with a cheerful: "But anyway, I'mimproving, you admit that, don't you, Jim? I'm not nearly as bad asI used to be!"She said now very seriously: "Jim, darling, you may depend upon me.I realize what this means, and I am perfectly delighted to have thechance. At eleven to-day, 'one if by land, and two if by sea,' I'llbe at your office. Trust me!""I do, dearest," Jim said. And he went down the drive a littlelater, under the blazing glory of the maples with great content inhis heart. Susanna, going about her pretty house briskly, felt sosure of herself that the day's good work seemed half accomplishedalready.She had adjusted the skirt of the pongee suit, and pinned thehydrangea hat at a fascinating angle when the telephone rang.Susanna slipped her bare arms into the stiff sleeves of a Mandarincoat and crossed the hall to the instrument."Hello, Susanna!" said the cheerful voice of young Mrs. Harrington,a neighbor and friend, at the other end of the telephone. "I justrang up to know if I could come over early and help you out withanything and whether--""Help me out with anything?" Mrs. Fairfax's voice ranged throughdelicate shades of surprise to dawning consternation. "Help me outwith what?""Why, you told me yourself that this was the day of the bridge-clublunch at your house!" Mrs. Harrington said, almost indignantly. Butimmediately she became mirthful. "Oh, Susanna, Susanna! You haven'tforgotten--oh, you have! Oh, you poor girl, what will you do!Listen, I could bring a--""Oh, my goodness, Ethel--and I've got to go to town!" Susanna's tonewas hushed with a sort of horror. "And those seven women will behere at half-past twelve! And not one thing in the house--""Oh, you could get Ludovici as far as the lunch goes, Sue. But thegirls will think it's odd, perhaps. Couldn't you wait and take theone o'clock?""Yes, I'll get Ludovici," Susanna decided hastily. "No, I couldn'tdo that. But I'll tell you what I could do. If you'll be an angel,Ethel, and do the honors until I get here, I could lunch early, getthrough my business in town, and get the one-fifty train for home--""Well, that'll be all right. I'll explain," said the amiable Mrs.Harrington.A few minutes later Mrs. Fairfax left the telephone and went down tothe kitchen to explain to Emma and Veronica, the maids, that therewould be a luncheon for eight ladies served by a caterer, in herhome, that day, and that they must simply assist him. She herselfmust be in town unfortunately, but Mrs. Harrington had very kindlyoffered to come over and be hostess and play the eighth hand ofbridge afterward. Emma and Veronica, perhaps more hardened to theseemergencies than are ordinary maids, rose to the occasion, andSusanna hurried off to her train satisfied that as far as the actualluncheon was concerned, all would go well. But what the seven womenwould think was another story!"I don't suppose Mrs. Thayer wants to do so very much shopping,"said Susanna to herself, hurrying along. "If I meet her at elevenand we lunch at one, say, I don't see why I shouldn't get the one-fifty train home. I'd get here before the girls had fairly startedplaying bridge, and explain--somehow one can always explain thingsso much better in person--""Or suppose we lunched at half-past twelve," her uneasy thoughts ranon. "That gives us an hour and a half to shop--that ought to beplenty. But we mustn't lose a minute getting started! Mrs. Thayerwill come up in her motor--that will save us time. We can startright off the instant I get to Jim's office."She stopped at the caterer's for a brief but satisfactory interview.The caterer was an artist, but his enthusiasms this morning werewasted upon Susanna."Yes, yes--cucumber sandwiches by all means," she assented hastily,"and the ices--just as you like! Plain, I think--or did you say incases? I don't care. Only don't fail me, Mr. Ludovici."Fail her? Mr. Ludovici's lexicon did not know the word. Susannabreathed more freely as she crossed the sunny village street to thetrain.The station platform was deserted and bare. Susanna, accustomed to abreathless late arrival, could saunter with delightful leisure tothe ticket-seller's window."You've not forgotten the new time-table?" said the agent,pleasantly, when they had exchanged greetings."Oh, does the change begin to-day?" Susanna looked blank."October sixteenth, winter schedule," he reminded her buoyantly."Going to be lots of engagements missed to-day!""But mine is very important and I cannot miss it," said Susanna,displeased at his levity. "I must be in Mr. Fairfax's office ateleven.""You won't be more than ten or twelve minutes late," said young Mr.Green, consolingly. "You tell Mr. Fairfax it's up to the N.Y. andE.W."Susanna smiled perfunctorily, but took her place in the train with asinking heart. She would be late, of course, and Jim would be angry,of course. Late to-day, when every minute counted and the programmeallowed for not an instant's delay! Her eyes on the flyingcountryside, she rehearsed her part, found herself eloquentlyexplaining to a pacified Jim, capturing a gracious Mrs. Thayer,successfully reaching home again, and explaining to an entirelyamiable bridge club.It could be done, of course, but it meant a pretty full day!Susanna's mind reverted uneasily to the consideration that she hadalready bungled matters. Oh, well, if she was late, she was late,that was all; and if Jim was furious, why, Jim would simply have tobe furious! And she began her explanations again--After all, it was but fifteen minutes past eleven when she walkedinto her husband's office. But neither Jim nor Mrs. Thayer wasthere."Mr. Fairfax went out not three minutes ago," said the prettystenographer in the outer office. Susanna, brought to a full stop,stared at her blankly."Went out!""Yes, with Mrs. Thayer to the dentist. He said to say he was afraidyou had missed your train. There's a note."The note was forthwith produced. Susanna read it frowningly. It wasrather conspicuously headed "Eleven-twelve!"DEAREST GIRL: Can't wait any longer. Mrs. T. must see her dentist(Archibald). I'm taking her up. Thayers and we lunch at the Palaceat one-thirty. Wait for me in my office. J. F."Oh, what is the matter with everything to-day!" Susanna burst outin exasperation. "He's wild, of course. When does he ever signhimself 'J. F.' to me! When did they go?" she asked Miss Perry,briefly, with an unreasonable wish that she might somehow hold thatirreproachable young woman responsible."Just about three minutes ago," said Miss Perry. "He said that ifyou had missed your train, you wouldn't be here for more than anhour, and it was no use waiting.""You see, it was a changed time-table, and he forgot it just as Idid," explained Susanna, pleased to find him fallible, even to thatextent."But he was on time," fenced Miss Perry, innocently."They don't change the business trains," Susanna said coldly. Andshe decided that she disliked this girl. She opened a magazine andsat down by the open window.The minutes ticked slowly by. The telephone rang, doors opened andshut, and men came and went through the office. Susanna, opposed inevery fibre of her being to passive waiting, suddenly rose."Dr. Archibald is in the First National Bank Building, isn't he?"she inquired. "I think I'll join Mrs. Thayer up there. There's nouse in my waiting here."Miss Perry silently verified Dr. Archibald's address in thetelephone book, and to the First National Bank Building Susannaimmediately made her way. It was growing warmer now and the streetsseemed noisy and crowded, but no matter--"If I can only get to themand see Jim!" thought Susanna.In the pleasant shadiness of Dr. Archibald's office, rising from adelightful mahogany arm-chair, Susanna presently asked if Mrs.Thayer could be told that Mrs. Fairfax was there."I think Mrs. Thayer is gone," said the attendant pleasantly. "I'mnot sure, but I'll see."In a few minutes she returned to inform Mrs. Fairfax that Mrs.Thayer had just come in to have a bridge replaced, and was gone."You don't know where?" Susanna's voice was a trifle husky withrepressed emotion. She realized that she was getting a headache.No, the attendant didn't know where.So there was nothing for it but to go back to Jim's office, and backSusanna accordingly went. She walked as fast as she could, consciousof every separate hot step, and was nervous and headachy when sheentered Miss Perry's presence again.Mr. Fairfax and Mrs. Thayer had not come in; no, but Miss Perryreported that Mr. Fairfax had telephoned not ten minutes ago, andseemed very anxious to get hold of his wife."Oh, dear, dear!" lamented Susanna. "And where is he now?"Miss Perry couldn't say. "I wrote his message down," she said, withsympathetic amusement at Susanna's crushed dismay. And, referring toher notes, she repeated it:"Mr. Fairfax said that Mrs. Thayer had had an appointment to see asick friend in a hospital this afternoon. But she has gone right outthere now instead, so that you and she can go shopping after lunch.You are, please, to meet Mr. Fairfax and the Thayers at the Palacefor luncheon at half-past one; there'll be a table reserved. Mr.Fairfax has a little business to attend to just now, but if youdon't mind waiting in the office, he thinks it's the coolest placeyou could be. He wanted to know if you had the whole afternoon free--""Oh, absolutely!" Susanna assented eagerly. This was not the time tospeak or think of the bridge club."And that was all," finished Miss Perry, "except he said perhaps youwould like to look at the plans of the orphanage. Mr. Fairfax gotthem out to show to Mr. Thayer this afternoon. I can get them foryou.""Oh, thank you! I do want to see them!" said Susanna, gratefully.And she established herself comfortably by the open window, theorphanage plans, a stiff roll of blue paper, in her lap, her idleeyes following the noonday traffic in the street below.What a shame to have to sit here doing nothing, to-day of all days,for nearly two hours! Susanna thought. Why, she could have met herluncheon guests, seen that the meal was at least under way,apologized in person, and then started for town. As it was, theymight be angry, and no wonder! And these were her neighbors and verygood friends, after all, the women upon whose good feeling half thejoy of her country home and garden depended. It was too bad!She glanced at the blue-prints, but one of her sudden inspirationsturned the page blank. What time was it? Ten minutes of twelve. Shereferred to her new timetable. Ten minutes of--why, she could justcatch the noon train, rush home, meet her guests, explain, and comeback easily on the one o'clock. But would it be wise? Why not?Her thoughts in a jumble, Susanna hastily gathered her smallpossessions together, moved to a decision by the always imperativeargument that in a few minutes it would be too late to decide."Heavens! I'm glad I thought of that!" she ejaculated, seatingherself in the train as the noon whistles shrilled all over thecity. A moment later she was a trifle disconcerted to find theorphanage plans still in her hand."Well, this is surely one of my crazy days!" Susanna strapped thestiff sheets firmly to her handbag. "I must not forget to take thoseback," she told herself. "Jim will ask for them the very firstthing."Her house; when she reached it, seemed quiet, seemed empty. Susannacrossed the porch, wondering, and encountered the maid."Emma! Nobody come?""Sure you had the wrong day of it," said Emma, beaming. "Mrs.Harrington fomed about an hour ago, and she says 'tis next Saturdaythin!""What do you mean?" said Susanna, sharply."'Tis not to-day they're comin', Mrs. Fairfax--""Nonsense!" Susanna said under her breath. She flew to her desk andsnatched up the scribbled card of engagements. "Why, it's no suchthing!" she said indignantly. "Of course it's to-day! Octobersixteenth, as plain as print." And with her eyes still on the cardshe reached for her desk telephone."Ethel," said Susanna, a moment later. "Listen, Ethel, this isSusanna. Ethel, what made you say the club luncheon wasn't to-day?This is my day to have the girls.... Certainly.... Why, I don't carewhat she said, I have it written down!... Why, I think that's veryfunny.... I have it written.... No, you can laugh all you want to,but I know I'm right.... No, that's nothing. Jim will eat it all upto-morrow; he says he never gets enough to eat on Sundays.... But Ican't understand, and I don't believe yet that I... Yes, it'swritten right here; I've got my eyes on it now! It's the mostextraordinary...."A little vexed at Mrs. Harrington's unbounded amusement, Susannaterminated the conversation as soon as was decently possible, andwent kitchenward. In her anxiety not to miss her train back to thecity, she refused Teresa's offer of dainty sandwiches, pastries, andtea, and merely stopped long enough to brush up her hair and toascertain by carefully enumerating them out loud that she had herpurse, her gloves, the orphanage plans, and the new time-table."This will seem very funny," said poor Susanna, gallantly toherself, as she took her seat in the train and tried to ignore areally sharp headache, "when once I see them! If I can only get holdof Jim, and if the afternoon goes smoothly, I shan't mind anything!"Only ten minutes late for her luncheon engagement, Susanna enteredthe cool depths of the restaurant and, piloted by an impressed headwaiter, looked confidently for her own party. It was very pleasanthere, and the trays of salads and iced things that were bornecontinually past her were very inviting.But still there was no Mrs. Thayer and no Jim. Susanna waited a fewnervous minutes, sat down, got up again, and finally, at twoo'clock, went out into the blazing, unfriendly streets, and walkedthe five short squares that lay between the restaurant and herhusband's office. A hot, dusty wind blew steadily against her; thestreets were full of happy girls and men with suit-cases, bound forthe country and a day or two of fresh air and idleness. Miss Perrywas putting the cover on her typewriter as Susanna entered theoffice, her own suit-case waiting in a corner. She looked astonishedas Susanna came in."My goodness, Mrs. Fairfax!" she ejaculated. "We've been trying andtrying to get you by telephone! Mr. Fairfax was so anxious to gethold of those orphanage plans. Mr. Thayer wanted--""I've been following him about all day," said Susanna, with anundignified, but uncontrollable gulp. She sat down limply. "Whathappened to the luncheon plan?" she asked forlornly. "Where is Mr.Fairfax?"Miss Perry, perhaps softened by the sight of Susanna's filling eyesand tired face, became very sympathetic. "Isn't it too bad--I knowyou have! But you see Mrs. Thayer couldn't see her friend in thehospital this morning, so she came right down here and got here notten minutes after you left. She said she couldn't wait for you, asshe had to be back at the hospital at two, so she would do a littleshopping herself and let the rest wait.""Well," said Susanna, after a pause in which her very soul rebelled,"it can't be helped, I suppose! Did Mr. Fairfax go out with her?""He was to take her somewhere for a cup of tea and then he was goinghome.""Going home! But I've just come from there!""He thought he'd probably catch you there, I think. He was anxiousto get hold of those plans.""Oh, I could cry--" Susanna began despairingly. But indeed MissPerry needed no assurance of that. "I could cry!" said Susannaagain. "To-day," she expanded, "has been simply one miserableaccident after another! I hope it'll be a lesson to me! Well--" Shebroke off short, for Miss Perry, while kind, was human, and wasvisibly conscious that she had promised her brother and sister-in-law to be at their house in East Auburndale, a populous suburb, longbefore it was time to put the baby to bed. "I suppose there'snothing for me to do but go home," finished Susanna, discontentedly."Accidents will happen!" trilled Miss Perry, blithely, hurrying forher car.Susanna went thoughtfully home, reflecting soberly upon the eventsof the day. If she could but live this episode down, she toldherself; but meet and win Mrs. Thayer somehow in the near future;but bring Jim to the point of entirely forgetting and forgiving thewhole disgraceful day, she would really reform. She would "keeplists," she would "make notes," and she would "think twice." Inshort, she would do all the things that those who had her good atheart had been advising for the past ten years.Of course, if the Thayers were resentful--refused to be placated--Susanna made a little wry mouth. But they wouldn't be!Still deep in stimulating thoughts of a complete reformation,Susanna reached home again, crossed the deep-tiled porch with itspotted olives and gay awnings, entered the big hall now dim withafternoon shadows. Now for Jim--!But where was Jim?"Mr. Fairfax is home, Emma?""Oh, there you are, Mrs. Fairfax! And us trying and trying totelefome you! No ma'am, he's not home. He left on the three-twenty.He'd only come out in a rush for some papers, and he had to get backto town to see some one at once. There's a note--"Susanna sat down. Her head was splitting, she was hungry andexhausted, and, at the effort she made to keep the tears out of hereyes, a wave of acute pain swept across her forehead. She opened thenote.If you can find a reliable messenger [said the note, withoutpreamble], I wish you would get those orphanage plans to me atThornton's office before six. I have to meet him there at four. Thematter is really important, or I would not trouble you. I'll dinewith Thayer at the club. J.F. The pretty hallway and the glaringstrip of light beyond the open garden door swam suddenly beforeSusanna's eyes. The hand that held the note trembled."I could not be so mean to him!" said Susanna to herself. "Butperhaps he was tired and hot--poor Jim!" And aloud she said withdignity: "I shall have to take this paper--these plans--in to Mr.Fairfax, Emma. I'll catch the four-twenty.""You'll be dead!" said Emma, sympathetically."My head aches," Mrs. Fairfax admitted briefly. But when she wasupstairs and alone she found herself suddenly giving way to the longdeferred burst of tears.After a while she bathed her eyes, brushed her hair, and substituteda more substantial gown for the pongee. Then she started out oncemore, refreshed and more cheerful in spite of herself, and soothedunconsciously by the quiet close of the lovely autumn afternoon.Her own gateway was separated by a flight of shallow stone stepsfrom the road, and Susanna paused there on her way to the train togather her skirts safely for the dusty walk. And while she wasstanding there she found her gaze suddenly riveted upon a motor-carthat, still a quarter of a mile away, was rapidly descend the slopeof the hill, its two occupants fairly shaken by its violent andrapid approach. The road here was not wide, and curved on a sharpgrade, and Susanna always found the descent of a large car, likethis one, a matter of half-terrified fascination. But surely withthis car there was more than the ordinary danger, she thought, witha sudden sick thumping at her heart. Surely here was something allwrong! Surely no sane driver--"That man is drunk," she said, quite aloud. "He cannot make it! Hecan't possibly--ah-h-h!"Her voice broke on a gasp, and she pressed one hand tight over hereyes. For with swift and terrible precision the accident had indeedcome to pass. The car skidded, turned, hung for a sickening secondon one wheel, struck the stone of the roadside fence with a horriblegrinding jar and toppled heavily over against the bank.When Susanna uncovered her eyes again, and before she could move orcry out in the dumb horror that had taken possession of her, she sawa man in golfing wear run from the Porters' gate opposite; andanother motor, in which Susanna recognized the figure of a friendand neighbor, Dr. Whitney, swept up beside the overturned one. Whenshe ran, as she presently found herself running, to the spot, othermen and women had gathered there, drawn from lawns and porches bythis sudden projection of tragedy into the gayety of their Saturdayafternoon."Hurt?" gasped Susanna, joining the group."The man is--dead, Billy says," said young Mrs. Porter, in loweredtones, with an agitated clutch of Susanna's arm. "And, poor thing!she doesn't realize it, and she keeps asking where her chauffeur isand why he doesn't come to her!""Wouldn't you think people would have better sense than to keep aman like that!" added another neighbor, Dexter Ellis, with abitterness born entirely of nervousness. "He was drunk as a lord!Young and I were just coming out of my side gate--"Every one talked at once--there was a confusion of excited comment.Somebody had flung a carriage robe over the silent form of the manas it lay tumbled in the dust and weeds; Susanna glanced toward itwith a shudder. Somehow she found herself supporting the car's otheroccupant, the woman, who was half sitting and half lying on the bankwhere she had fallen. The woman had opened her eyes and was lookingslowly about the group; she had pushed away the whiskey the doctorheld to her lips, but she looked sick and seemed in pain."I had just put the baby down when I heard Dex shout--" Susannacould hear Mrs. Ellis saying behind her in low tones. "Oh, it is,it's an outrage--they should have regarded it years ago," saidanother voice. "Merest chance in the world that we took the sidegate," Dexter Ellis was saying, and some man's voice Susanna did notknow reiterated over and over: "Well, I guess he's run his last car,poor fellow; I guess he's run his last car--""You feel better, don't you?" the doctor asked his patient,encouragingly. "Just open your mouth and swallow this." And Susannasaid gently: "Just try it; you'll feel so much stronger!"The woman turned upon her a pair of eyes as heavy as a sickanimal's, and moistened her lips. "Arm," she said with difficulty."Her arm's broken," said the doctor, in a low tone, "and I think herleg, too. Kane has gone to wire for the ambulance. We'll get herright into town.""You can't take her to town!" Susanna ejaculated, turning so thatshe might not be heard by the sufferer. "Take her in to my house.""The hospital is really the most comfortable place for her, Mrs.Fairfax," the doctor said guardedly. "I am afraid there is internalinjury. Her mind seems somewhat confused. You can't undertake theresponsibility--""Ah, but you can't jolt the poor thing all the way into town--"Susanna began again. Mrs. Porter, at her shoulder, interrupted herin an earnest whisper:"Sue, dear, it's always done. It won't take very long, and nobodyexpects you--""I know just how Susanna feels," interrupted Mrs. Ellis, "but afterall, you never can tell--we don't know one thing about her--""She'll be taken good care of," finished the doctor, soothingly."Please--don't let them frighten--my husband--" said the womanherself, slowly, her distressed eyes moving from one face toanother. "If I could--be moved somewhere before he hears--""We won't frighten him," Susanna assured her tenderly. "But will youtell us your name so we may let him know?"The injured woman frowned. "I did tell you--didn't I?" she askedpainfully."No"--Susanna would use this tone in her nursery some day--"No,dear, not yet.""Tell us again," said the doctor, with too obvious an intention tosoothe.The woman gave him a look full of dignified reproach."If I could rest on your porch a little while," she said to Susanna,ignoring the others rather purposely, "I should be quite myselfagain. That will be best. Then I can think--I can't think now. Thesepeople--and my head--"And she tried to rise, supporting herself with a hand on Susanna'sarm. But with the effort the last vestige of color left her face,and she slipped, unconscious, back to the grass."Dead?" asked Susanna, very white."No--no! Only fainted," Dr. Whitney said. "But I don't like it," headded, his finger at the limp wrist."Bring her in, won't you?" Susanna urged with sudden decision. "Isimply can't let her be taken 'way up to town! This way--"And, relieved to have it settled, she led them swiftly across thegarden and into the house, flung down the snowy covers of the guest-room bed, and with Emma's sympathetic help established the strangertherein."Trouble," whispered the injured woman apologetically, when sheopened her eyes upon walls and curtains rioting with pink roses, andfelt the delicious softness and freshness of the linen and pillowsabout her."Oh, don't think of that--I love to do it!" Susanna said honestly,patting her head. "A nurse is coming up from the village to look outfor you, and she and the doctor are going to make you morecomfortable."The woman, fixing her with a dazed yet curiously intent look, formedwith her lips the words, "God bless you," and wearily shut her eyes.Susanna, slipping out of the room a few minutes later, said over andover again to herself, "I don't care--I'm glad I did it!"Still, it was not very reassuring to hear the big hall clock strikesix, and suddenly to notice the orphanage plans lying where they hadbeen flung on the hall table."I wish it was the middle of next year," said Susanna, thoughtfully,going out to sink wearily into a porch chair, "or even next week!I'd pretend to be asleep when Jim came home to-night," she went ongloomily, "if it wasn't my duty to sit up and explain that there area perfect stranger and a trained nurse in the house. Of course,being there as I was, any humane person would have to do what I did,but it does seem strange, this day of all days, that I had to bethere! And I wish I had thought to send those plans in by messenger--that would have been one thing the less to worry about, at least!--What is it, Emma?"For Emma, mildly repeating some question, had come out to the porch."Would you like tea, Mrs. Fairfax? I could bring it out here likeyou had it last week with your book."Susanna brightened. After all, she had not eaten for a long while;tea would be very welcome. And the porch was delightful, and therewas the new Locke."Well, that was my original idea, Emma," said she, "and although theday has not gone quite as I had planned, still there's no reason whythe idea should be changed. Bring a supper-tea, Emma, lots ofsandwiches--I'm combining three meals in one, Miss Smith," she brokeoff to explain smilingly, as the nurse, trimly clad in white, cameto the doorway. "I've not eaten since breakfast. You must have sometea with me. And how is she? Is her mind clearer?""Oh, dear me, yes! She's quite comfortable," Miss Smith saidcheerfully. "Doctor thinks there's no question of internal trouble.Her arm is broken and her ankle badly wrenched, but that's all. Andshe's so grateful to you, Mrs. Fairfax. It seems she has a perfecthorror of hospitals, and she feels that you've done such aremarkably kind thing--taking her in. She asked to see you, and thenwe're going to try to make her sleep. Oh, and may I telephone herhusband?""Oh, she could give you his name then!" cried Susanna, in relief."Oh, I am glad! Indeed, you may telephone. Who is she?"Miss Smith repeated the name and address.Susanna, stared at her blankly. Then the most radiant of all herready smiles lighted her face."Well, this is really the most extraordinary day!" she said softly,after a pause. "I'll come right up, Miss Smith, but perhaps youmight let me telephone for you first. I can get her husband easily.I know just where he is. He and my own husband are dining togetherthis evening, as it happens--"

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