[Sidenote:  Discussing the Case]

“It is very improbable,” returned Allan, seriously, “that anything can be done.  If they were well-to-do, they undoubtedly made every effort and saw everybody worth seeing.”

“But in twenty years,” suggested Eloise, hopefully.  “Think of all the progress that has been made in twenty years.”

“I know,” said Allan, doubtfully.  “All we can do is to see.  And if anything can be done for them, why, of course we’ll do it.”

“Then we’ll go for a little drive,” she said, “and on our way back, we can stop there and get the things I bought the other day.  They have no one to send with them, and it’s too much for one person to carry, anyway.”

“I suppose she has sold everything she had,” mused Allan impersonally.

“Not quite,” answered Eloise, flushing.  “I left her some samples for the Woman’s Exchange.”

“Very kind,” he observed, with the same air of detachment.  “I can see my finish.  My wife will have so much charity work for me to do that there will be no time for anything else, and, in a little while, she will have given away all the money we both have.  Then when we’re sitting together in the sun on the front steps of the poorhouse, we can fittingly lament the end of our usefulness.”

[Sidenote:  Policy of Segregation]

“They won’t let us sit together,” she retorted.  “Don’t you know that even in the old people’s homes they keep the men and women apart—­husbands and wives included?”

“For the love of Mike, what for?” he asked, in surprise.

“Because it makes the place too gay and frivolous.  Old ladies of eighty were courted by awkward swains of ninety and more, and there was so much checker-playing in the evening and so many lights burning, and so many requests for new clothes, that the management couldn’t stand it.  There were heart-burnings and jealousies, too, so they had to adopt a policy of segregation.”

“‘Hope springs eternal in the human breast,’” quoted Allan.

“And love,” she said.  “I’ve thought sometimes I’d like to play fairy godmother to some of those poor, desolate old people who love each other, and give them a pretty wedding.  Wouldn’t it be dear to see two old people married and settled in a little home of their own?”

“Or, more likely, with us,” he returned.  “I’ve been thinking about a nice little house with a guest room or two, but I’ve changed my mind.  My vote is for a very small apartment.  You’re not the sort to be trusted with a guest room.”

[Sidenote:  Starting Off]

Eloise laughed and sprang to her feet.  “On to the errand of mercy,” she said.  “We’re wasting valuable time.  Get a horse and buggy and I’ll see if I can borrow an extra suit-case or two for my purchases.”

When she came down, Allan was waiting for her in the buggy.  A bell-boy, in her wake, brought three suit-cases and piled them under the seat.  Half a dozen rocking-chairs, on the veranda, held highly interested observers.  The paraphernalia suggested an elopement.