hat's why I'm considering all this so carefully--she doesn't
commit herself in one way or the other. It's a sign."

"Knowing you, Mattie, I presume that you've conducted researches into
his desirability as a nephew-in-law?"

"Well, shouldn't I? Goodness knows, we don't lead a conventional life
in this family, and I don't chaperone her. I reproach myself a little
with that. When Mrs. Goodyear wanted to take her up and put her into
the Fortnightly, it wasn't so much Eleanor's disinclination as my own
laziness about getting up gowns and paddling about paying calls which
kept me back--and that's God's truth."

"And these penitential exercises in detective work--what have they
brought forth?"

"He's a little careless morally, I think. He's had too much
conviviality about the Club. I'm afraid he's blossoming over young.
They can say all they want about wild oats, but in this city it's a
mistake to sow them all at once. That's one reason why I've been so
good to him. I flatter myself that a house like this is a moral
influence on him."

"It's all a concern for his soul with you, then?"

"No. Frankly, I like him. Everyone likes him. He's a dear. But as to
Eleanor--"

The Judge had risen and taken off his skull cap.

"Well, she has run a ranch and she's travelled alone to Europe and
back, and she's saved the soul if not the body of a father. And I
wonder whether a girl who's all that to her credit can't be trusted to
deal with the problem of an undesirable though attractive young
man--"

"If I were only sure he was undesirable!"

"It is according," responded the Judge, "to your definition of
undesirability. If you mean worldly circumstances, you needn't fear
for Bertram Chester. He resigns from my firm this month."

"What for?"

"Attwood brought me news of it. I don't know where he's going. I'm not
supposed to know anything. But for to get rich, for one thing." He
closed his book and restored it to its place on the shelves. "He took
the left-hand road, you see. It was manifest destiny; and you and I
and Eleanor cannot move one whit the career of that young man."

CHAPTER XII

When Kate called him up over the telephone, inviting him, second-hand,
to join a Masters party at Sanguinetti's restaurant, Bertram
interrupted his banter to ask if Eleanor were going.

"I'm sure I don't know what her plans are," said Kate. "Why don't you
ask her?" The tone was a little cold.

Remembering his duty, Bertram did