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roused from a light sleep to the knowledge that something was going on； and being a dog who always liked to be in the centre of the maelstrom of events； had waddled out to investigate。
By the time Mrs。 Hignett had pulled herself together sufficiently to feel brave enough to venture into the hall； Webster's presence of mind and Smith's gregariousness had bined to restore that part of the house to its normal nocturnal condition of emptiness。 Webster's stagger had carried him almost up to the green baize door leading to the servants' staircase； and he proceeded to pass through it without checking his momentum； closely followed by Smith who； now convinced that interesting events were in progress which might possibly culminate in cake； had abandoned the idea of sleep and meant to see the thing through。 He gambolled in Webster's wake up the stairs and along the passage leading to the latter's room； and only paused when the door was brusquely shut in his face。 Upon which he sat down to think the thing over。 He was in no hurry。 The night was before him； promising； as far as he could judge from the way it had opened； excellent entertainment。
Mrs。 Hignett had listened fearfully to the uncouth noises from the hall。 The burglarsshe had now discovered that there were at least two of themappeared to be actually romping。 The situation had grown beyond her handling。 If this troupe of terpsichorean marauders was to be dislodged she must have assistance。 It was man's work。 She made a brave dash through the hall； mercifully unmolested： found the stairs： raced up them： and fell through the doorway of her son Eustace's bedroom like a spent Marathon runner staggering past the winning…post。
2
In the moment which elapsed before either of the two could calm their agitated brains to speech； Eustace became aware； as never before； of the truth of that well…known line； 〃Peace； perfect Peace； with loved ones far away！〃
〃Eustace！〃
Mrs。 Hignett gasped； hand on heart。
〃Eustace； there are men in the house！〃
This fact was just the one which Eustace had been wondering how to break to her。
〃I know；〃 he said uneasily。
〃You know！〃 Mrs。 Hignett stared。 〃Did you hear them！〃
〃Hear them？〃 said Eustace； puzzled。
〃The drawing…room window was left open； and there are two burglars in the hall。〃
〃Oh； I say； no！ That's rather rotten！〃 said Eustace。
〃I saw and heard them。 e with me and arrest them。〃
〃But I can't。 I've sprained my ankle。〃
〃Sprained your ankle？ How very inconvenient！ When did you do that？〃
〃This morning。〃
〃How did it happen？〃
Eustace hesitated。
〃I was jumping。〃
〃Jumping！ Butoh！〃 Mrs。 Hignett's sentence trailed off into a suppressed shriek； as the door opened。
Immediately following on Eustace's accident； Jane Hubbard had constituted herself his nurse。 It was she who had bound up his injured ankle in a manner which the doctor on his arrival had admitted himself unable to improve upon。 She had sat with him through the long afternoon。 And now； fearing lest a return of the pain might render him sleepless； she had e to bring him a selection of books to see him through the night。
Jane Hubbard was a girl who by nature and training was well adapted to bear shocks。 She accepted the advent of Mrs。 Hignett without visible astonishment； though inwardly she was wondering who the visitor might be。
〃Good evening；〃 she said； placidly。
Mrs。 Hignett； having rallied from her moment of weakness； glared at the new arrival dumbly。 She could not place Jane。 She had the air of a nurse； and yet she wore no uniform。
〃Who are you？〃 she asked stiffly。
〃Who are you ？〃 countered Jane。
〃I；〃 said Mrs。 Hignett portentously； 〃am the owner of this house； and I should be glad to know what you are doing in it。 I am Mrs。 Horace Hignett。〃
A charming smile spread itself over Jane's finely…cut face。
〃I'm so glad to meet you；〃 she said。 〃I have heard so much about you。〃
〃Indeed？〃 said Mrs。 Hignett。 〃And now I should like to hear a little about you。〃
〃I've read all your books；〃 said Jane。 〃I think they're wonderful。〃
In spite of herself； in spite of a feeling that this young woman was straying from the point； Mrs。 Hignett could not check a slight influx of amiability。 She was an authoress who received a good deal of incense from admirers； but she could always do with a bit more。 Besides； most of the incense came by mail。 Living a quiet and retired life in the country； it was rarely that she got it handed to her face to face。 She melted quite perceptibly。 She did not cease to look like a basilisk； but she began to look like a basilisk who has had a good lunch。
〃My favorite；〃 said Jane； who for a week had been sitting daily in a chair in the drawing…room adjoining the table on which the authoress's plete works were assembled； 〃is 'The Spreading Light。' I do like 'The Spreading Light！'〃
〃It was written some years ago；〃 said Mrs。 Hignett with something approaching cordiality； 〃and I have since revised some of the views I state in it； but I still consider it quite a good text…book。〃
〃Of course； I can see that 'What of the Morrow？' is more profound；〃 said Jane。 〃But I read 'The Spreading Light' first； and of course that makes a difference。〃
〃I can quite see that it would；〃 agreed Mrs。 Hignett。 〃One's first step across the threshold of a new mind； one's first glimpse。。。。〃
〃Yes； it makes you feel。。。。〃
〃Like some watcher of the skies；〃 said Mrs。 Hignett； 〃when a new planet swims into his ken； or like。。。。〃
〃Yes； doesn't it！〃 said Jane。
Eustace； who had been listening to the conversation with every muscle tense； in much the same mental attitude as that of a peaceful citizen in a Wild West saloon who holds himself in readiness to dive under a table directly the shooting begins； began to relax。 What he had shrinkingly anticipated would be the biggest thing since the Dempsey…Carpentier fight seemed to be turning into a pleasant social and literary evening not unlike what he imagined a meeting of old Vassar alumni must be。 For the first time since his mother had e into the room he indulged in the luxury of a deep breath。
〃But what are you doing here？〃 asked Mrs。 Hignett； returning almost reluctantly to the main issue。
Eustace perceived that he had breathed too soon。 In an unobtrusive way he subsided into the bed and softly pulled the sheets over his head； following the excellent tactics of the great Duke of Wellington in his Peninsular campaign。 〃When in doubt；〃 the Duke used to say； 〃retire and dig yourself in。〃
〃I'm nursing dear Eustace；〃 said Jane。
Mrs。 Hignett quivered； and cast an eye on the hump in the bed…clothes which represented dear Eustace。 A cold fear had e upon her。
〃'Dear Eustace'！〃 she repeated mechanically。
〃We're engaged；〃 said Jane。 〃We got engaged this morning。 That's how he sprained his ankle。 When I accepted him； he tried to jump a holly…bush。〃
〃Engaged！ Eustace； is this true？〃
〃Yes；〃 said a muffled voice from the interior of the bed。
〃And poor Eustace is so worried；〃 continued Jane； 〃about the house。〃 She went on quickly。 〃He doesn't want to deprive you of it； because he knows what it means to you。 So he is hopingwe are both hopingthat you will accep