“We know you got Uncle Arthur’s letters about us,” she continued, “because he showed us your answers back.  You invited us to come and stay with you.  And, as you perceive, we’ve done it.”

“Then it must have been months ago—­months ago,” said Mr. Sack, “before all this—­do I remember something about it?  I’ve had such trouble since—­I’ve been so distracted one way and another—­it may have slipped away out of my memory under the stress—­Mrs. Sack—­” He paused and looked round the room helplessly.  “Mrs. Sack—­well, Mrs. Sack isn’t here now.”

“We’re very sorry you’ve had trouble,” said Anna-Felicitas sympathetically.  “It’s what everybody has, though.  Man that is born of woman is full of misery.  That’s what the Burial Service says, and it ought to know.”

Mr. Sack again turned bewildered eyes on to her.  “Oh, aren’t you a pretty—­” he again began.

“When do you think Mrs. Sack will be back?” interrupted Anna-Rose.

“I wish I knew—­I wish I could hope—­but she’s gone for a long while, I’m afraid—­”

“Gone not to come back at all, do you mean?” asked Anna-Felicitas.

Mr. Sack gulped.  “I’m afraid that is her intention,” he said miserably.

There was a silence, in which they all stood looking at each other.

“Didn’t she like you?” then inquired Anna-Felicitas.

Anna-Rose, sure that this wasn’t tactful, gave her sleeve a little pull.

“Were you unkind to her?” asked Anna-Felicitas, disregarding the warning.

Mr. Sack, his fingers clasping and unclasping themselves behind his back, started walking up and down the room.  Anna-Felicitas, forgetful of what Aunt Alice would have said, sat down on the edge of the table and began to be interested in Mrs. Sack.

“The wives I’ve seen,” she remarked, watching Mr. Sack with friendly and interested eyes, “who were chiefly Aunt Alice—­that’s Uncle Arthur’s wife, the one we’re the nieces of—­seemed to put up with the utmost contumely from their husbands and yet didn’t budge.  You must have been something awful to yours.”

“I worshipped Mrs. Sack,” burst out Mr. Sack.  “I worshipped her.  I do worship her.  She was the handsomest, brightest woman in Boston.  I was as proud of her as any man has ever been of his wife.”

“Then why did she go?” asked Anna-Felicitas.

“I don’t think that’s the sort of thing you should ask,” rebuked Anna-Rose.

“But if I don’t ask I won’t be told,” said Ann Felicitas, “and I’m interested.”

“Mrs. Sack went because I was able—­I was so constructed—­that I could be fond of other people as well as of her,” said Mr. Sack.

“Well, that’s nothing unusual,” said Anna-Felicitas.

“No,” said Anna-Rose, “I don’t see anything in that.”

“I think it shows a humane and friendly spirit,” said Anna-Felicitas.

“Besides, it’s enjoined in the Bible,” said Anna-Rose.