"Aunt," I managed to say, "here is Kitty come to condole with me andcongratulate me; and this is my friend, Miss Bryant of the _Star_.You remember? She sometimes was here at the tea."

"A reporter!"

"0h, I had to know! Don't worry. Cadge, dear, did nobody but you see me?"

"The fossils never have anything they can't clip," exclaimed Cadge in the toneof absorption that her work always commands. "I'm surprised myself at the_Echo_, though it did notice that a 'Miss Winslow' fainted in the VanDam box. But haven't you had reporters here--regiments? Expected to findyou ordering Gatlings for the siege."

"We're bombarded!" said Aunt. "With--er--"

"Rapid fire questions," suggested Ethel.

"--but the servants have their orders. 0f course," Aunt added uneasily,"we're glad to see any friend of Nelly's."

"0h, by the way, I'm interviewing you," Cadge announced; _Star_ wantsto follow up its beat. You haven't talked?"

"Why, no; but--do I have to be interviewed?"

Just at first the idea was a shock, I must confess.

"Do you _have_ to be interviewed? Wish all interviewees were as meek.Why, of course, Helen, you'll want to make a statement. I 'phoned the_Star_ photoer to meet me here, but he's failed to connect.However, Kitty can sketch--"

"0h, Miss Bryant!" wailed Aunt. "An interview! How frightful! Can't youlet her off?"

"Why, I don't exactly look at how--though I might--" Cadge deliberated,studying Aunt's face rather than mine, "--might wait and look at the purpleextras. I know how she feels, Mrs. Baker--they're always that way, atfirst--and I'm anxious to spare her, but--I can't let the _Star_ bebeaten. If I were you--"