get some flowers for the table and some to put in the living-room. We might just as well go ahead and do it to-morrow as any other time; because your father's in a fine mood, and I saw Malena this afternoon and told her I might want her soon. She said she didn't have any engagements this week, and I can let her know to-night. Suppose when he comes you ask him for to-morrow, Alice. Everything'll be very nice, I'm sure. Don't worry about it."
"Well—but———" Alice was uncertain.
"But don't you see, it looks so queer, not to do something?" her mother urged. "It looks so kind of poverty-stricken. We really oughtn't to wait any longer."
Alice assented, though not with a good heart. "Very well, I'll ask him, if you think we've got to."
"That matter's settled then," Mrs. Adams said. "I'll go telephone Malena, and then I'll tell your father about it."
But when she went back to her husband, she found him in an excited state of mind, and Walter standing before him in the darkness. Adams was almost shouting, so great was his vehemence.
"Hush, hush!" his wife implored, as she came near them. "They'll hear you out on the front porch!"
