with _me_."

"You will have to dissemble a little, of course; pretend you want a
holiday too, and take him to--to, well, we must look up some inexpensive
French watering-place."

Gertrude smiled her approval.

"That's the idea, Andrew! Go up in a white felt hat, and tell him you
know of a naughty little place in France where you can get dancing.
He'll jump at it!"

Their brother regarded them with ever-increasing gloom.

"That kind of thing is not in my line--" he began; but once more he was
impressed with the disadvantages of a bi-sexual world. The two ladies
seemed positively incapable of grasping his objections, either to
wearing a Homburg hat or recommending a naughty French watering-place.

"I don't insist on its being white; grey will do," said Mrs. Donaldson.

"Of course, I should never dream of taking him to a really disreputable
place," said Mrs. Ramornie; "you only want a Casino and a little
promenading, and so on."

"It will be great fun, Andrew!"

"It is your duty, Andrew."

"Yes, yes; of course we know you are an Elder of the Kirk and all the
rest of it; but on an occasion, don't you know, Andrew!"

"What alternative do you suggest, Andrew?"

Yet he was still hanging fire when Jean entered. It had been tacitly
understood that her presence was not required at the council of war,
and the marked silence which followed her entry might reasonably have
warned her that matters were being discussed too complicated for young
unmarried girls. Yet she closed the door behind her and came forward
with a quietly resolute air.

"I've only just heard you were here," she said. "You are talking about
father, I suppose."

"We are," replied Mrs. Ramornie briefly.

Jean sat down.

"What have you decided?" she asked.

"We have decided he should go abroad with Andrew for a little change."

"Why?"

"Do you need to ask why, Jean? Surely you don't want him to go on making
a fool of himself in London?"

"I don't see why he shouldn't go to a dance occasionally if he wants
to."

"Go to a dance!" exclaimed Mrs. Donaldson.

"My dear Jean! do you suppose this was an ordinary--"

"Hush, Gertrude," said their brother austerely.

"Anyhow," said Mrs. Ramornie, "it is quite settled that he must leave
London at all costs, and that it is inadvisable he should return to
Edinburgh at present."

"But Aunt Mary was only saying to-day that he has to preside at a dinner
to-morrow night."

"Oh, he'll forget all about