"Good lord!" said Mr. Kane. "But, look here, this is cockeyed! Not a month ago Mother was having the shudders over the blonde beauty, and telling us what hell Timothy would have with Mrs. Haddington, or whatever her name was, for a mother-in-law. When did he pick up this new number?"

"At the Haddingtons'. She's Mrs. Haddington's secretary. Your mother says that she found her definitely hostile, and she's convinced that there's something thoroughly shady about her. She says she hasn't said a word about it to Sir Adrian, because the girl is just the type he would dislike, and she won't have him worried. Apparently the engagement isn't official yet. Here, you can read her letter for yourself!"

Mr. Kane laid aside The Times, and read through five close-written pages with what his wife considered maddening deliberation. He then folded the letter and handed it back to her.

"Well?" she said impatiently.

"I can't say it sounds good," he replied. "However, you've only got Mother's word for all this, and if you've seen the damsel she thinks worthy of Timothy I can only say I haven't."

"No, but don't you think it's odd for a girl meeting her future mother-in-law not even to mention her own parents?"

"May have been shy."

"Nonsense! There's something fishy about her, Jim, and you know it!"

"I don't know any such thing, and if I did, what the hell do you think I can do about it? I'm not Timothy's keeper!"

"No, but you're years older than he is, and you know how he's always adored you, and looked up to you!"

"My good girl," said Mr. Kane revolted. "I may have been a hero to Timothy when he was a kid - not that he ever gave much sign of venerating me - but that's years ago!"

"Of course I didn't mean he still looks on you as a sort of demigod, but he's awfully fond of you, Jim!"