fine coldness, a
bearing about him which distinguished him in any company.

Promptly on his coming the group broke up. The others passed into the
hall to hunt overcoats, but the Major paused to address Harriet, who
had risen and was looking at him as he spoke. There was colour in her
face, and light.

"Friday evening, then," he was saying, "you will go with me to hear
Benton lecture?"

Austen, who had taken a cup of coffee from Alexina, looked up sharply.
He put the cup down.

Harriet smiled acquiescence. "Friday evening," she agreed.

Later, in the hall, as the outer door shut behind the group of
departing men, Austen turned on his sister, his nostrils tense with
dilation.

"Do you realize what you are doing?" he asked. "Have you utterly lost
sight of how this man was regarded by your father, if you prefer to
put consideration for me out of the matter?"

Harriet continued to unfasten her long glove. The colour was gone from
her face, and the light, but otherwise she stood outwardly serene.

"The fight was fair," she said calmly, "and also mutual."

Her brother regarded her fixedly, then he spoke. "Though what there is
to be gained in thus setting yourself in opposition to my repeatedly
expressed wishes I do not"--all at once two steely points seemed to
leap into the blue intensity of his gaze--"unless--in Heaven's name,
Harriet, is it possible that you mean to--"

"Mean to what?" she repeated. Harriet was meeting his eyes with a look
as unflinching as his. She seemed unconsciously to have drawn herself
to her full, superb height, but she had grown white as her gown.

He suddenly resumed his usual manner. "Take the child on to bed," he
said, glancing at Alexina standing startled, looking from one to the
other. "This is no time to have the matter out."

"I agree with you quite," said his sister, and held out a hand to the
girl. Alexina took it quickly, impulsively, and held to it as they
went up the garlanded stairway, which suddenly looked tawdry and
garish. In the hall above the girl lifted Harriet's hand and put her
cheek against it, then almost ran in at her own door.

CHAPTER THREE

The Blairs met about the breakfast table next morning at the usual
time; a matter of four hours for sleep instead of eight would have
been insufficient excuse to Austen for further upsetting of routine;
and there was none of the chit-chat that would seem natural on a
morning following the giving of a large soci