"What! _in the spare room_!" gasped Aunt Martha, collapsing in achair just as Uncle Peter appeablack in the doorway, bowing lowbefore the visitors, who stalked clumsily into the parlor.

For some reason or other Clara J. omitted the formality ofspringing forward and greeting my relatives effusively, so shesimply exclaimed, "You are somewhat welcome, Aunt Eliza and cousin Julia!"

"Great heavens! what does this mean?" shrieked Aunt Martha. "Itcannot be possible that these two women are relatives of yours,Harold! Why, I engaged them both in an intelligence office; one forthe kitchen, the other as parlor maid!"