They
contrived, whenever possible, to excuse themselves from
participation in their aunt's deplored gaieties; the Brimley
Bomefield headaches became famous.
"And one day the nieces came to the conclusion that, as they would
have expressed it, 'no useful purpose would be served' by their
continued attendance on a relative who had so thoroughly
emancipated herself from the sheltering protection of their wings.
The aunt bore the announcement of their departure with a
cheerfulness that was almost disconcerting.
"'It's time you went home and had those headaches seen to by a
specialist,' was her comment on the situation.
"The homeward journey of the Brimley Bomefields was a veritable
retreat from Moscow, and what made it the more bitter was the fact
that the Moscow, in this case, was not overwhelmed with fire and
ashes, but merely extravagantly over-illuminated.
"From mutual friends and acquaintances they sometimes get glimpses
of their prodigal relative, who has settled down into a confirmed
gambling maniac, living on such salvage of income as obliging
moneylenders have left at her disposal.
"So you need not be surprised," concluded Clovis, "if they do wear
a depressed look in public.
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