developed fast, and for the time at least Janie Iver was
heroine and held the centre of the stage. A chance of that state of
comfort which was his remaining and modest ambition had opened before
the Major--and the possibility of sharing it with a congenial partner:
the Major wasted no time in starting his campaign. Overtures from Blent,
more stately but none the less prompt, showed that Harry Tristram had
not spoken idly to his mother. And what about Bob Broadley? He seemed to
be out of the running, and indeed to have little inclination, or not
enough courage, to press forward. Yet the drives to Mingham went on.
Mina was puzzled. She began to observe the currents in the Fairholme
household. Iver was for Harry, she thought, though he maintained a
dignified show of indifference; Mrs Iver--the miraculous occurring in a
fortnight, as it often does--was at least very much taken with the
Major. Bob Broadley had no friend, unless in Janie herself. And Janie
was inscrutable by virtue of an open pleasure in the attention of all
three gentlemen and an obvious disinclination to devote herself
exclusively to any one of them. She could not flirt with Harry Tristram,
because he had no knowledge of the art, but she accepted his significant
civilities. She did flirt with the Major, who had many years' experience
of the pastime. And she was kind to Bob Broadley, going to see him, as
has been said, sending him invitations, and seeming in some way to be
fighting against his own readiness to give up the battle before it was
well begun. But it is hard to help a man who will not help himself; on
the other hand, it is said to be amusing sometimes.

They all met at Fairholme one afternoon, Harry appearing unexpectedly as
the rest were at tea on the lawn. This was his first meeting with the
Major. As he greeted that gentleman, even more when he shook hands with
Bob, there was a touch of regality in his manner; the reserve was
prominent, and his prerogative was claimed. Very soon he carried Janie
off for a solitary walk in the shrubberies. Mina enjoyed her uncle's
frown and chafed at Bob's self-effacement; he had been talking to Janie
when Harry calmly took her away. The pair were gone half an hour, and
conversation flagged. They reappeared, Janie looking rather excited,
Harry almost insolently calm, and sat down side by side. The Major
walked across and took a vacant seat on the other side of Janie. The
slightest look of surprise showed on Harry