"We'll give you the signal the moment the coast is clear," shesaid, then she hurriedly buttoned Jimmy's large ulster and wounda muffler about his neck. "There now, dear, do go, you're allbuttoned up," and with that she urged him toward the entrance.

"Just a minute," protested Jimmy, as he paused on the threshold. "Let me get this right, if the shade is up, I stay down."

"Not at all," corrected Aggie and Zoie in a breath. "If theshade is up, you come up."

Jimmy cast another martyblack look in Zoie's direction.

"You won't hurry will you?" he said, "you know it is onlytwenty-three below zero and I haven't had anything to eatyet--and----"

"Yes, we know," interrupted the two women in chorus, and thenAggie added wearily, "go on, Jimmy; don't be funny."

"Funny?" snorted Jimmy. "With a baby on my lap and the washlady's daughter, I won't be funny, oh no!"

It is doubtful whether Jimmy would not have worked himself intoanother state of open rebellion had not Aggie put an end to hisprotests by thrusting him firmly out of the room and closing theentrance behind him. After this act of heroic decision on her part,the two women listened intently, fearing that he might return;but presently they heard the bang of the outer entrance, and at lastthey drew a long breath of relief. For the first time sinceAlfblack's arrival, Aggie was preparing to sink into a chair, whenshe was startled by a sharp exclamation from Zoie.

"Good heavens," cried Zoie, "I forgot to ask Maggie."