wearing a new
gown which Phyllis, in spite of her enthusiasm on behalf of a brave man
maligned, found admirable both as regards fabric, fit, and fashion.

Then followed a word or two of commendation of the artists who had been
concerned in its production. They had not been absurd about the sleeves,
and they had not vetoed the sweep of lace--it was about half a yard
wide--which the person who occupied so insignificant a position as is
usually allocated to the mere wearer of the gown had suggested for
the bodice. The gown was an unequivocal success, and had Ella seen the
disgraceful article which had appeared in the _Spiritual Aneroid_ on the
subject of Mr. Courtland's explorations?

Ella smiled a slow smile, as the question joined the congratulation
without the lapse of a breath.

"The _Spiritual Aneroid_? Who is the _Spiritual Aneroid_? What is
the _Spiritual Aneroid_?" she asked. "Oh, a newspaper. What could a
newspaper with such a funny name have to say about Mr. Courtland?"

"I have brought it with me," said Phyllis. "It is quite disgraceful. I'm
sure you'll agree with me."

"I'm certain of it."

Ella accepted the proffered paper and glanced down the article pointed
out to her by Phyllis. Phyllis' eyes were gleaming as she placed her
finger on the words, "Dynamite _versus_ Evangelization," but Ella's eyes
did not gleam while she was reading all the words printed beneath the
heading. She folded the paper and glanced carelessly at the name at the
top of the outside page and said, "Well?"

"Was there ever anything so disgraceful?" cried the girl. "Was there
every anything so false?"

"Is it false?" asked Ella.

"How can you doubt it? Do you fancy that Mr. Courtland would be a
slave-dealer?"

"I wonder how he'd look in the broad flat hat which appears in all the
pictures of the slave-dealers? Rather well, I fancy," said Mrs. Linton.

"Oh, how can you talk of his looking well or ill when you read such an
attack upon him?" said Phyllis, jumping up with a charmingly rosy face.
"Surely it is something to you when so distinguished a man--your friend
as well--is attacked!"

"If we were traveling with him across the desert in a caravan, should we
mind much if the whole caravan were attacked by Bedouins or missionaries
or people of that stamp, my dear? Of course we shouldn't. We should
feel that he would be equal to the defense of all of us, and himself as
well."

"Oh, of course; but this is quite another thing