ace fell. "Really, Holland," he said, "I don't see how, if you
are fond of a woman you can want ..."

"... to spare her such a brother as you. Think it over."

"There are worse brothers than I," replied McVay, "how many men would
have sacrificed what I have sacrificed in order to keep her
comfortably."

"Not many, I hope."

"She is extraordinarily fond of me."

"Perhaps. You see she has not any one else to be fond of."

"We can scarcely say that _now_," returned McVay encouragingly.

"I won't discuss it with you."

"You can't mean to tell me that you are in love with my sister and mean
to send me to state's prison?"

"I mean exactly that."

"Why, she'd never forgive you."

Geoffrey thought this so probable that he had no answer to give and
presently McVay, who had been grumbling over the matter to himself,
asked: "Are you serious, Holland?"

"What do you suppose I am?" Geoffrey roared, and McVay, shaking his head
went on with the work of clearing the table. He was very silent and
abstracted and for the first time seemed to realise his position. When
they had put away the last plate, Geoffrey said:

"Now come to the library. I am going to give you a pipe, confound you."

"A pipe! Why?"

"Because I want to give your sister something, and I think she would be
more apt to take it."

"I'm afraid she is rather offended by the way you treated her little
gift. As a matter of fact I was the person to be offended, for I had
given her the pencil. A pretty little thing, singularly like one which
you may have seen Mrs.--"

"Don't tell me where you took it from. I don't want to know. Come and
get your pipe and mind you are grateful."

"A pipe," observed McVay thoughtfully. "I think I'll take that large
meerschaum on the mantelpiece."

Geoffrey laughed. "I think you won't," he answered. "The best pipe I
own! No, indeed, you'll take a horrid little one that won't draw. It
will be just the thing for you."

"No," said McVay, "no. You must give me the big one. Otherwise I shall
make it appear that you promised the other to me, and turned mean at the
last moment. And I can do it, Holland." His little eyes gleamed at the
thought. "I shall say, 'My dear fellow, I'm glad you changed your mind
about the meerschaum; it was as you say, too handsome for a man in my
position.' That will make her mad if anything will. You know she is not
quite satisfied with the way you treat me, as it is."

This was quite true, and Geof