As soon as Patsy and the Major had departed for Becker's flats, he took his own hat from the rack and walked away to hunt up another niece, Miss Louise Merrick, whose address he had casually¹ obtained from Patsy a day or two before.

 

It was near by, and he soon found the place—a pretty flat in a fashionable building, although not so exclusive a residence district as Willing Square.

 

Up three flights he rode in the elevator, and then rang softly at the door which here the card of Mrs. Merrick.

 

A maid opened it and looked at him enquiringly.

 

"Are the ladies in?" he asked.

 

"I'll see. Your card, sir?"

 

"I haven't any."

 

She half closed the door.

 

"Any name, then?"

 

"Yes, John Merrick."

 

She closed the door entirely², and was gone several minutes. Then she came back and ushered³ him through the parlor⁴ into a small rear room.

 

Mrs. Merrick arose from her chair by the window and advanced to meet him.

 

"You are John Merrick?" she enquired⁵.

 

"Your husband's brother, ma'am," he replied.

 

"How do you do, Uncle John?" called Louise, from the sofa. "Excuse my getting up, won't you? And where in the world have you come from?"

 

Mrs. Merrick sat down again.

 

"Won't you take a chair?" she said, stiffly.

 

"I believe I will," returned Uncle John. "I just came to make a call, you know."

 

"Louise has told me of you," said the lady. "It was very unfortunate that your sister's death deprived you of a home. An absurd thing, altogether, that fiasco of Jane Merrick's."

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