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The Skylarkers looked at each other in blank astonishment。 One of the long…cherished traditions of the house was the inviolability of this attic。 Its rooms were let with an especial privilege guaranteeing its privacy； with free license to make all the noise possible； provided the racket was confined to that one floor。 So careful had been its occupants to observe this rule； that noisy as they all were when once on the top floor； every man unlocked the front door at night with the touch of a burglar and crept upstairs as noiselessly as a footpad。
〃I'm sorry； men；〃 said McFudd； looking into the astounded faces about him。 〃I'm the last man； as ye know； to hurt anybody's feelings。 But what the divil's got into the old lady？ Who'd 'a' thought she would have heard a word of it down where she sleeps in the basement？〃
〃'Tis the Van Tassell；〃 grunted the Walrus。 〃She's so mesmerized the old woman lately that she don't know her own mind。〃
〃What makes you think she put her up to it； Waller？〃 asked Cranch。
〃I don't thinkbut it's just like her；〃 answered Waller； with illogical prejudice。
〃My eye！ wasn't she a beauty！〃 laughed Fred； and he picked up a bit of charcoal and began an outline of the wrapper and slippers on the side…wall。
Tomlins； Cranch； and the others had no suggestions to offer。 Their minds were too much occupied in wondering what was going to become of them in the morning。
The German band by this time had regained their usual solidity。 The leader seemed immensely relieved。 He had evidently expected the next apparition to be a bluecoat with a pair of handcuffs。
〃Put their green jackets on 'em；〃 McFudd said to the leader quietly； pointing to the instruments。 〃We're much obliged to you and your men for coming up；〃 and he slipped some notes into the leader's hand。 〃Now get downstairs； every man o' ye； as aisy as if ye were walking on eggs。 Cranch； old man； will ye see 'em out； to kape that infernal drum from butting into the Van Tassell's door； or we'll have another hornet's nest。 Begorra； there's wan thing very sureit's little baggage I'LL have to move out。〃
The next morning a row of six vacant seats stared Miss Ann out of countenance。 The outcasts had risen early and had gone to Riley's for their breakfast。 Miss Ann sat at the coffee…urn as stiff and erect as an avenging judge。 Lofty purpose and grim determination were written in every line of her face。 Mrs。 Van Tassell was not in evidence。 Her nerves had been so shattered by the 〃night's orgy；〃 she had said to Miss Ann； that she should breakfast in her room。 She further notified Miss Teetum that she should at once withdraw her protecting presence from the establishment； and leave it without a distinguished social head； if the dwellers on the top floor remained another day under the same roof with herself。
An ominous silence and depressing gloom seemed。 to hang over everybody。 Several of the older men pushed back their plates and began drumming oh the table…cloth with their fingers； a far…away look in their eyes。 One or two talked in whispers； their coffee untasted。 Old Mr。 Lang looked down the line of empty seats and took his place with a dejected air。 He was the oldest man in the house and the oldest boarder； this gave him certain privileges； one being to speak his mind。
〃I understand；〃 he said； unfolding his napkin and facing。 Miss Ann； 〃that you have ordered the boys out of the house？〃
〃Yes； I have；〃 snapped out Miss Teetum。
Everybody looked up。 No one recognized the tone of her voice； it was so sharp and bitter。
〃Why； may I ask？〃
〃I will not have my house turned into a bear… garden； that's why！〃
〃That's better than a graveyard；〃 retorted Mr。 Lang。 〃That's what the house would be without them。 I can't understand why you object。 You sleep in the basement and shouldn't hear a sound； my wife and I sleep under them every night。 If we can stand it； you can。 You send the boys away； Miss Teetum； and we'll move out。〃
Miss Ann winced under the shot； but she did not answer。
〃Do you mean that you're going to turn the young gentlemen into the street； Miss Ann？〃 whined Mrs。 Southwark Boggs in an injured tone； from her end of the table。 〃Are we going to have no young life in the house at all？ I won't stay a day after they're gone。〃
Miss Teetum changed color； but she looked straight ahead of her。 She evidently did not want her private affairs discussed at the table。
〃I shall want my bill at the end of the week； now that the boys are to leave；〃 remarked the little hunchback to Miss Ann as he bent over her chair。 〃Life is dreary enough as it is。〃
And so the boys stayed on。
Only one room became vacant at the end of the month。 That was Mrs。 Schuyler Van Tassell's。
CHAPTER XI
A CHANGE OF WIND
The affair of the brass band； with its dramatic and most unlooked…for ending； left an unpleasant memory in the minds of the members of the club； especially in Oliver's。 His training had been somewhat different from that of the others present； and his oversensitive nature had been more shocked than pleased by it all。 While most of the other participants regretted the ill…feeling which had been aroused in Miss Teetum's mind； they felt surein fact； they knew that this heretofore kind and gentle hostess could never have fanned her wrath to so white a heat had not some other hand besides her own worked the bellows。
Suspicion first fell upon a new boarder unaccustomed to the ways of the house； who； it was reported； had double…locked herself in at the first crash of the drum； and who had admitted； on being cross…examined by McFudd； that she had nearly broken her back in trying to barricade her bedroom door with a Saratoga trunk and a wash…stand。 This theory was abandoned when subsequent inquiries brought to light the fact that Mrs。 Van Tassell； when the echoes of one of McFudd's songs had reached her ears； had stated a week before that no respectable boarding…house would tolerate uproars like those which took place almost nightly on the top floor； and that she would withdraw her protection from Miss Euphemia and leave the house at once and forever if the noise did not cease。 This dire threat being duly reported to the two Misses Teetum hadit was afterward learnedso affected them both that Miss Ann had gone to bed with a chill and Miss Sarah had warded off another with a bowl of hot camomile tea。
This story； true as it undoubtedly was； did not entirely clear up the situation。 One part of it sorely puzzled McFudd。 Why did Miss Euphemia need Mrs。 Van Tassell's protection； and why should the loss of it stir Miss Ann to so violent an outburst？ This question no member of the Skylarks could answer。
The solution came that very night； and in the most unexpected way； Waller bearing the glad tidings。
Miss Euphemia； ignoring them all； was to be married at St。 Mark's at 6 P。M。 on the following Monday； and Mrs。 Van Tassell was to take charge of the wedding reception in the front parlor！ The groom was the strange young man who had sat for some days beside Miss Euphemia； passing as Miss Ann's nephew； and who really was a well…to…do druggist with a shop on Astor Place。 All of the regular boarders of the house were to