Ellen found herself particularly interested, next day, in making preparations for the reception of her husband’s friend, the first bachelor who should spend a night in the house.  It was a fortnight since Red Pepper had insisted upon having the telephones extended to the upstairs rooms, and during that period two more rooms had been furnished and put in readiness for the guests whom it was a part of Mrs. Burns’s hospitable creed to expect.  The larger of these was a charming apartment, in blue and white, and possessed a small fireplace, in front of which stood a low couch, luxurious with many pillows.

“It’s rather a feminine looking room for so manly a man as Dr. Leaver,” Ellen reflected, as she looked in at it, an hour before his arrival, “but perhaps he’s not above enjoying little softnesses of comfort.  I believe I’ll have a small fire for him, June though it is.  It’s a cold June, and it looks like rain.  It is raining.”  She crossed to the window and looked out.  “Why, it’s pouring!  What a pity!  We shall have to stay indoors.”

As she stood contemplating the downpour, it quite suddenly increased, and in the course of a minute or two became a deluge.  In the midst of it she discovered a white-clad figure running across the lawn, and recognized Miss Mathewson, evidently caught in the shower as she was returning to Burns’s office.

“She must be soaked through and through,” thought Ellen, and ran downstairs to meet her, herself clad in dinner dress of the pale lilac which suited her so well, and for which her husband had conceived a special fondness.

“Oh, don’t come near me, please, Mrs. Burns,” expostulated Miss Mathewson, as she stood, dripping, on the porch outside the office, while Ellen, in the open door, motioned her within.  “I’ll just stay here until the worst is over, and then run home and change.”

“Indeed you’ll come in.  Nothing can hurt this floor, and it’s turned ever so cold, as I can feel.  It may rain for an hour.  I’ll give you everything you need, and be delighted.”

There was no resisting Red Pepper’s wife; she was accustomed to have her way.  Miss Mathewson, reluctant but shivering, came inside, and when her clothing had ceased to drip moisture, followed Ellen upstairs.  Presently, dry-clad, she was taken into Ellen’s own room and confronted with an invitation which was rather a command.

“You’re to stay and have dinner with us.  I’ve laid out a frock which I’m confident will fit you.  Please don’t say no.  It’s a special providence, for I’ve been wishing all the afternoon I had asked somebody to make a fourth at our table, to meet Dr. Leaver.  And now I shall have the pleasure of dressing you for the occasion, since you can’t possibly go home through this, and wouldn’t have time to dress and come back, if you could.”

“But, Mrs. Burns,—­” Amy Mathewson began, flushing after a fashion she had which made her for the moment almost pretty and certainly attractive, “there’s no real reason why you need me, and I—­”