is right, even if his theology doesn't always please
me," said his brother graciously, examining some cards that lay on the
table. "I see Mrs. Wyeth has called," he continued to Nancy, looking up
from these.

"Yes. She wanted me to see her sister, poor Mrs. Eversley, who is ill at
her house. I promised to look in to-morrow."

"I've just been telling Nance how beautiful I think Mrs. Wyeth is," said
Bernal. "She's rare, with that face of the low-browed Greek. It's one of
the memories I shall take back to my Eve-less Eden."

"She _is_ beautiful," said Nancy. "Of course her nose is the least bit
thin and long, but it rather adds zest to her face. Now I must dress for
dinner."

When Nancy had gone, Bernal, who had been speaking with a marked
lightness of tone, turned to Allan with an equally marked seriousness.

"Old chap, you know about that money of mine--of Grandfather's?"

Allan instantly became attentive.

"Of course, there's no hurry about that--you must take time to think it
over," he answered.

"But there _is_ hurry! I shouldn't have waited so long to make up my
mind.

"Then you _have_ made up your mind?" questioned his brother, with
guarded eagerness.

"Definitely. It's all yours, Allan. It will help you in what you want to
do. And not having it will help me to do what I want to do--make it
simpler, easier. Take it--and for God's sake be good to Nancy."

"I can't tell you how you please me, Bernal. Not that I'm avid for
money, but it truly seems more in accord with what must have been
grandfather's real wish. And Nancy--of course I shall be good to
her--though at times she seems unable to please me."

There was a sanctified displeasure in his tone, as he spoke of Nancy. It
caused Bernal to turn upon him a keen, speculative eye, but only for a
moment. And his next words had to do with matters tangible. "To-morrow
I'll do some of the business that can be done here. Then I'll go up to
Edom and finish the transfers that have to be made there." After a brief
hesitation, he added: "Try to please _her_ a bit, Allan. That's all."

CHAPTER XVI

IN WHICH THE MIRROR IS HELD UP TO HUMAN NATURE

When, the next day, Nancy went to pay her promised visit to Mrs.
Eversley, the rectory was steeped in the deep household peace of
mid-afternoon. Both Allan and Bernal had gone out soon after luncheon,
while Aunt Bell had withdrawn into the silence, there to meditate the
first letters of the alphabet of the inex