and resumed her work calmly

"You are practically invisible." she told him. "Making ourselves a habitation. Seen Mrs. Keith?" "No. I don't think she's come in." Keith hesitated, then: "I think I'll go up to the house for her." Mrs. Sherwood nodded, and resumed her work calmly, without further remark. At the house Keith found Nan, her apron on, her hair done up under a dust cap, very busy. "Noon?" she cried, astonished. "It can't be! But I can't stop now. I think I'll have Wing pick me up a lunch. There's plenty in the house. It's too much bother to clean up." Keith demurred; then wanted to stay for the pick-up lunch himself. Nan would have none of it. She was full of repressed enthusiasm and eagerness, but she wanted to get rid of him. "There's not enough. I wouldn't have you around. Go away, that's a good boy! If you'll leave Wing and me entirely alone we'll be ready to move in to-morrow." "Where's Gringo?" asked Keith by way of indirect yielding--he had really no desire for a picked-up lunch. "The little rascal! He started to chew everything in the place, so I tied him in the backyard. He pulls and flops dreadfully. Do you think he'll strangle himself?" Keith looked out the window. Gringo, all four feet planted, was determinedly straining back against his tether. The collar had pulled forward all the loose skin of his neck, so that his eyes and features were lost in wrinkles. "He doesn't yap," volunteered Nan. Keith gave it as his opinion that Gringo would stop short of suicide, commended Gringo's taciturnity and evident perseverance, and departed for the hotel. In the dining-room he saw Mrs. Sherwood in a riding habit, eating alone. Keith hesitated, then took the vacant seat opposite. She accorded this permission cordially, but without coquetry, remarking that Sherwood often did not get in at noon. Immediately she turned the conversation to Keith's affairs, inquiring in detail as to how the settling was getting on, when they expected to get in, how they liked the house, whether they had bought all the furniture. "You remember I directed you to the auctions?" she said.