he others. Sir John would have none of Ware's provisional
attitude--it was not what he called "straight"; but then he had a
prejudice against lawyers, and held no particularly high opinion of
Bertram Ware.

"Make up your mind," he said to his wife. "Either we use it or we don't.
But if we use it, it's taking a favor from her, and that may be awkward
later on."

Now Lady Aspenick wanted to use the road very much indeed--and not
merely the road for her tandem, so sadly famous in history, but also the
turf alongside it for her canters. But in the first place Lady Aspenick
was herself a model of propriety, and in the second--it was an even
weightier consideration--she had a growing girl; Eunice Aspenick was now
nearly sixteen--and rode with her mother. Supposing Lady Aspenick and
Eunice used the road, supposing Jenny were guilty of enormities, came
back guilty of them, and discovered Lady Aspenick, with Eunice, on the
road! Lady Aspenick's problem was worse than Mrs. Jepps's--because of
Eunice on the one hand, and of Lady Aspenick's remarkably strong desire
to use the road on the other.

This question of the road--work on the Institute at a standstill--no
more parties at Breysgate (what of the Flower Show next summer?)! Verily
Jenny was causing endless inconvenience!

It would not be just to say that this difficulty about the road--and
Eunice--determined Lady Aspenick's attitude toward Jenny; it is perhaps
permissible to conjecture that it led her to reconsider it. After the
lapse of a fortnight she came out on Jenny's side, and signified the
same by calling on Chat at Breysgate Priory. Chat and I sometimes
consoled one another's loneliness at afternoon tea; I was present when
Lady Aspenick arrived.

We had our lesson pat--so long as we were not cross-examined. Jenny was
wintering abroad; Chat's health (this was our own supplement) had made
traveling inadvisable for her, and Jenny had found other companions.
Lady Aspenick was most affable to the story; she admitted it to belief
at once. Sympathy with Chat, pleasure at not being deprived of Chat's
society, kind messages through Chat to Jenny--all came as easily and
naturally as possible. Not an awkward question! It was with real
gratitude that I conducted Lady Aspenick to her carriage. But she had a
word for me there.

"I didn't want to talk about it to that poor old thing," she said, "but
have you any--news, Mr. Austin?"

"None, except what I've told you. She isn't