I also want to compare our old costs with present costs--" Burdon stared at her, but Mary--half-ashamed of what she was doing--kept her glance upon the two accountants.
"Mr.Burdon will give you all the old records, all the old books you want," she said, "and will help you in every possible way--" And still Burdon stared at her--his whole life concentrated for a moment in his glance.

And still Mary looked at the two accountants who completed the triangle by looking at Burdon, as they naturally would, waiting for him to turn and speak to them.

As Mary watched them, she became conscious of a change in their manner, a tenseness of interest, such as the two astronomers aforesaid might display at the sight of some disturbance in the heavens.
"What do they see ?" she thought, and looked at Burdon.

But Burdon at the same moment had turned to the accountants, his manner as large, his air as dashing as ever.
"Anything you want, gentlemen," he said, "you have only to ask for it." When Mary reached home that evening, you can imagine how Aunt Patty and Aunt Cordelia listened to her recital, their white heads nodding at the periods, their cheeks pink with pride.

Now and then they exchanged glances.