r
her upbringing Violet had depended wholly upon her father--an ardent
Socialist as well as Atheist. Thus she had grown up in an atmosphere
thoroughly anti-religious, until death had claimed her father also.
Socialism had never strongly appealed to her, and was not likely to do
so, under present circumstances; for religion she entertained a
supercilious disdain, as "out-of-date nonsense."

Here, then, were three young people kept in contact by the evident
attraction of both men for the same girl, and by the diplomatic
encouragement which the latter seemed to give to each in equal
proportion. Had Violet not been in question, Murray would have given
the cold shoulder to Aston; but as Violet tolerated Aston, he perforce
must put up with him. Aston, on his part, admired and feared Murray,
whom he regarded as a formidable rival.

"What puzzles me about Murray," he exclaimed once to a boon companion,
"is his jolly good English! Why, the chap has positively no kind of
provincial accent!" (Cuthbert's English, by the way, was not regarded
by his intimates as the perfect thing!) "He doesn't speak like a
Scotch Johnny at all! You never hear an 'Aye, aye' or 'd'ye ken?'--not
a broad vowel even! Why, he might have lived all his life this side
the border, to judge by his tongue, confound him!"

There could be no doubt of Cuthbert's attachment to Violet. No
remonstrances of his mother--and they were but mild, in spite of her
objection to Violet, since she recognized the futility of opposing her
son's determined will--had the slightest effect with him. He felt
confident in the final acquiescence of both parents in whatever he
might choose to do with regard to marriage. Everything, as he saw,
rested with Violet, and he was shrewd enough to appreciate the
advantages--not so much personal as social--involved in her ultimate
decision.

An amateur operatic company had been started in the town, and all the
musical talent among the younger generation had been stirred up to take
part in what was regarded as a pleasant occupation for winter evenings
with the pleasurable anticipation of the excitement of a public
performance as the outcome of practices. Our human triangle formed
part of the company. All three were musical, and two of them more than
usually talented both in singing and acting--Violet and Bernard. The
former especially--endowed with a beautiful soprano voice, which had
been well cultivated, added to what is styl