come
responsible for Haney's past; it is a business and not a social
arrangement."

"That's like a man," she responded; "they never see anything till it
bumps their noses. They've both called on the Haneys and gone riding
with them--or with the girl. They've even eaten luncheon there!"

"How dreadful! Mrs. Crego, you shock me!"

"If any evil comes of this--and there will be sorrow in it--you'll be
morally responsible. In the old days it didn't matter, but now nobody
who is anybody in this town can associate with people like the Haneys
and not be hurt by it."

The judge ceased to smile. "Now, let this end the discussion. Fordyce
has sense enough to take care of himself. He's just the man for
Haney--he has time, good nature, and splendid connections. I am glad to
be rid of the business, and I am delighted to think this young fellow
has pleased Haney--"

"It isn't Haney. Don't you see? It's that girl. She has urged it--I'm
perfectly sure."

"Stop right there!" he commanded, sharply. "I don't want to hear a word
of your insinuations. I'm tired of them. I'm ashamed of you." And he
took up his paper and walked away from her.

She was defeated at the moment, but hurried to the Congdons with her
news. Lee looked quite serious enough. "I don't believe I like that
either. What do you think, Frank?"

"All depends on Ben. If he makes it a business deal and keeps it so all
right; if he don't, it may go against him in the town, as Helen says."

"Don't you think you'd better go see him and have a talk?"

"Nixie!" he answered, in swift negation. "Little Willie don't want to
tackle that delicate job. I'm subtle, but not so subtle as that. Alice
Heath knows all we know and more, and you can bet they've talked the
whole thing over."

"But they may not realize the position of the Haneys."

"They may not; but I suspect they think they can carry any connection
they choose to make, and I mostly think they can--ten generations of
Quaker ancestry--"

"But the people there don't know their ancestry."

"Well, go talk to them. I abdicate. Besides, I like the Haneys."

Mrs. Crego now laid her joker on the table. "Here's the point. That girl
is _taken_ with Ben--it's all her plan."

Congdon started. "Sh! Don't say that out loud, Nell. That little wife is
true as steel."

"I don't care. My prophetic soul--"

Lee put in. "Prophetic pollywogs! Why, Helen, the girl is as simple and
straightforward as a boy of twelve."

"She see