Astra (Musaicum Romance Classics). Grace Livingston Hill

escorts," and hastened on home.

      "Clytie, where in the world have you been?" her mother would ask. "It is two hours since you left the house, and I told you to come right back! What on earth have you been doing all this time?"

      "Why, Mother dear, I hurried just as fast as I possibly could," Clytie would respond. "Didn't I, Astra? You know, Mother, it takes the longest time to get waited on in that library. I simply implored that woman to wait on me at once, but she said she couldn't show preference, and there was a long, long line of people waiting for books. Schoolchildren, you know, and all that."

      And then her mother would say, "Clytie! That's perfect nonsense! What were you doing? Who were you talking to in the library?"

      "Not a soul, Mother dear," Clytie would chirp blithely. "Was I, Astra?"

      Cousin Miriam's quick glance would give a passing search to Astra's face as she turned away to lay the books down on the table and then look back at Clytie.

      "Now look here, Clytie, you must have been doing something more than just getting books! With whom did you walk up the street and talk?"

      "Not a soul, Mother. I didn't meet anyone I knew at all this afternoon. Did I, Astra?"

      But for once, this last time it had happened, Astra had escaped up to her room before an inquisition, though she still had a faint fear that it all might be brought up again later, in a full family conclave, and she be made to tell all she knew of the afternoon. The trouble was that Astra had been taught not to lie, even when she was in an unpleasant situation, and they all knew it. They knew that when she admitted a thing it was so, and there was no disputing it. But they also had their ways of punishing her for it if the truth put the adored Clytie in an unpleasant light in her parents' eyes. For often, when Astra had been forced to tell the truth about some ill-advised action of Clytie's, it was Astra who was treated as if she were the offender, and Clytie got off scot-free.

      So the days had been going by, each one a problem in itself, and Astra had been growing heartsick and sad.

      Moreover Clytie's borrowing habit had increased lately, until it had come about that there was scarcely enough in Astra's allowance check after board was paid and Clytie had dipped into it to cover Astra's actual needs in the way of clothing, stationery, and so forth.

      Astra had worried a lot about this, for she felt guilty letting it go on without the knowledge of Clytie's parents, and yet if she told them there would be a terrible row, and she would inevitably be accused of being stingy. So clever was Clytie that she knew just how to work it this way without having the situation reflect in the least upon herself. Astra had prayed about it and come to the conclusion that she must not let this go on, no matter what might happen to herself.

      And so, when it was arranged that the Lesters were to go to California to visit Duke's mother and father and to attend a cousin's wedding—a cousin who was not related to Astra—and she was to be left at home, she decided the time had come for her to think this thing through by herself and work it out somehow so that life would be livable and she need not feel continually condemned.

      Then the very day before the Lesters started, Astra's check arrived. Astra cashed it at once, because she wished to pay her board before they left. After that was done, she put the remainder in a safe place, a new place, where she had not kept money before. A little carved wooden box with a spring lock. She put the box carefully away among her least-used garments in her lower bureau drawer and locked the drawer, putting the key on a ribbon around her neck.

      She wasn't just sure why she did all this, but of late she had a suspicion that Clytie did not hesitate to go to her purse if she were in need of a trifle. Yet she had no proof of that, and she felt almost condemned for locking that drawer.

      But locks meant nothing at all to Clytie. Nothing indeed was sacred when Clytie wanted something.

      Clytie came to her as usual. She spoke nonchalantly, as if she were somehow conferring a favor on Astra.

      "How about a little loan, Astra darling?" she said. "And could you make it a little larger than usual? I spent more than I meant to on that wedding gift, and I'm afraid I'm going to run short before I get back."

      Astra was ready for her this time, however. She looked up pleasantly from the letter she was writing and gave Clytie a faint smile.

      "Sorry, Clytie, but I can't possibly spare anything this time. I'm getting some new clothes, and I have a few plans I want to carry out while you are away. Besides, I'll be entirely on my own and have no one to borrow from, so I have to be economical. You haven't paid me back yet what you owe me, you know."

      "Why, the ridiculous idea!" sneered Clytie. "Why should I pay you back those little trifles when you're living here in our house, just making a convenience of us? You haven't any expenses, you know you haven't. And anyway, you can charge new clothes. You know Mother always says you can. Besides, you don't need any new clothes while we are away. There'll be nobody here. What would you want new clothes for? And you never go to parties."

      "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, Clytie, but I really can't let you have any money this time. Why don't you ask your father for some? I think that would be better, don't you? I can't always spare it. And Clytie, I always pay my board, you know. My father arranged for that, and this time I paid for the time you are to be away. So I haven't as much as usual. No, really, I mean it. I can't spare even a dollar."

      Clytie, with her most unamiable expression, stared in affront at her cousin.

      "Well, I think you are the most unaccommodating—"

      And just then Clytie's mother called.

      "Clytie, why don't you come? I'm waiting for you to measure this skirt. Hurry!"

      Clytie turned away hurriedly and murmured in a fierce anger, "Well, I'll see that you're good and sorry for this!" Slamming the door, she hurried down the stairs.

      It was a busy day, and Astra had little time to think about her money. There were so many little last things that Cousin Miriam wanted done. There were hems to be shortened, collars to be washed out, stockings to mend. The items seemed endless, and Astra took them all up to her room to do, out of the hurry and turmoil of downstairs. There was no chance for Clytie to annoy her, for Clytie was sent on several errands herself, and as usual, did not return soon.

      Astra sat up very late finishing the mending for Miriam, and all day she had kept an eye on the third-story stairs which led to her room; she was sure Clytie had had no chance to get up there without being seen.

      For Clytie had a way of mauling over Astra's ribbons and collars and gloves, and calmly appropriating anything that was to her liking, and it wasn't in the least unlikely that she would attempt such a raid at the last minute. So Astra lay down to sleep the night before they left with relief, knowing that nothing had been attempted that night at least, and there would be very little time for anything of the sort in the morning.

      They were all at breakfast when Clytie entered with a frown on her brow.

      "Mother, did you see those lovely new Pullman slippers I brought home yesterday? I thought I took them up to my room to put in my suitcase, but I can't find them anywhere. Astra, did you take them away? If you call that a joke, I think it's a poor time to pull it off, just as we're starting."

      "Clytie, that's no way to speak to your cousin," said her father, albeit with an indulgence in his voice that did not trouble Clytie.

      "Well, I can't help it. I want those slippers, and I intend to have them! You might at least come upstairs and help me find them, Astra!" She darted an angry look at Astra and dashed out of the room and upstairs.

      Astra listened and heard her footsteps going up the second flight, then she rose to follow.

      "No," said Miriam, "don't go, Astra. Eat your breakfast and then run down to the shoe shop for me. I left a pair of shoes there to have the heels straightened, and I need them."

      "But Miriam, you haven't time to go after things. It's almost time we started," said her husband.

      "Oh, I think we