hardly refuse to accept it now Captain Hannaford is dead," said
Rose. "Not to do what he so much hoped you would do for his sake would
be--almost treacherous."

"Yes, it seems to me you're bound to take his gift," George Winter
added. "If you don't want to live in the house, why not make it a home
of rest for women workers who are tired or ill, and need a few weeks of
warmth and sunshine, but can't afford even cheap pension prices?"

"Next season we might get up a bazaar to support such a home," Rose
suggested, warming to the scheme.

"Perhaps I could support it myself," Mary said, "if Vanno would consent.
I haven't lost much more than my Casino winnings, and I should like to
do some one good. I've ever so much money of my own. I know very little
about such things, but I believe I must be quite rich. And then there's
the jewellery I've bought since I came here. I've lost interest in it
already. I could sell some to help the Home, couldn't I? The only things
I really care for are the pearls, which I have on now under my dress;
and the rest I mean to leave with you, Mrs. Winter, if you don't mind,
instead of troubling to take the jewel-case over to the Villa Mirasole."

"Of course I don't mind," Rose said, "except that it's a responsibility.
However, thieves aren't looking for 'big hauls' in parsons' houses. I'll
store the jewel-case with pleasure; but you must keep the key of the
cabinet, lest you should want to open it some day when I am out."

Then they went back to the subject of the Chateau Lontana, planning how
to carry out Hannaford's wishes, even though Mary felt it would be
impossible to live in the house. George Winter volunteered to arrange
all details concerning the funeral urn and the placing of the tablet,
because he had learned to feel an affection for Mary Grant which was
almost that of a brother for a very young and beautiful sister. He
wanted her, in spite of all, to be happy in her visit to Princess Della
Robbia, happy as she could not be if constantly reminded of Hannaford
and his tragedy. He offered also to see the lawyer at Ventimiglia, so
that Vanno, who proposed soon to go to Rome, might spend his time
meanwhile at the Villa Mirasole.

"Don't thank me," the chaplain said at last. "It is but little I'm
engaging myself to do. And it's as much for Hannaford's sake as yours.
Poor Hannaford! I didn't do half enough for him when he was alive. I
feel as if I owed him something now."

Mary did not s