No one ever used the decorated plate, or the glass mug at its side, with its twisted handle and the letter 'G.' on the silver cover.

Just what this mug was for none of the household knew until Grace Atherton, who had travelled in Europe, and to whom Mrs.Tracy showed it one day when Arthur was out, said: 'Why, it is a beer-mug, such as is used in Germany, though more particularly among the Bavarian Alps and in the Tyrol.

This Gretchen is probably a tippler, with a red nose and a double chin.

I wish to goodness she would come and satisfy our curiosity.' This wish of Grace's was not shared by Mrs.Tracy, who felt an uneasy sense of relief as the days went on, and the beer-drinking Gretchen did not appear, while Arthur became more and more depressed and remained altogether in his room, seeing no one and holding no intercourse with the outside world.

He had returned no calls, and had been but once to the cottage in the lane to see Mrs.Crawford.That interview had been a long and sad one, and when they talked of Amy, whose grave Arthur had visited on his way to the cottage, both had cried together, and Gretchen seemed for the time forgotten.