the whole thing out with Ted; we must know how to act when it's all
over."

But not till the middle of March, when the brothers had been sitting
opposite each other at meals for two months, was the subject broached
between them, and then not by Robert. Edward, standing by the hearth
after dinner, in his familiar attitude, one foot on the fender, one hand
grasping the mantel-shelf, and his eyes fixed on the flames, said: "I've
never asked your forgiveness, Bob."

Robert, lingering at the table over his glass of port, started, looked at
Edward's back in its parson's coat, and answered:

"My dear old chap!"

"It has been very difficult to speak of this."

"Of course, of course!" And there was a silence, while Robert's eyes
travelled round the walls for inspiration. They encountered only the
effigies of past Piersons very oily works, and fell back on the
dining-table. Edward went on speaking to the fire:

"It still seems to me incredible. Day and night I think of what it's my
duty to do."

"Nothing!" ejaculated Robert. "Leave the baby with Thirza; we'll take
care of it, and when Nollie's fit, let her go back to work in a hospital
again. She'll soon get over it." He saw his brother shake his head, and
thought: 'Ah! yes; now there's going to be some d--d conscientious
complication.'

Edward turned round on him: "That is very sweet of you both, but it would
be wrong and cowardly for me to allow it."

The resentment which springs up in fathers when other fathers dispose of
young lives, rose in Robert.

"Dash it all, my dear Ted, that's for Nollie to say. She's a woman now,
remember."

A smile went straying about in the shadows of his brother's face. "A
woman? Little Nollie! Bob, I've made a terrible mess of it with my
girls." He hid his lips with his hand, and turned again to the flames.
Robert felt a lump in his throat. "Oh! Hang it, old boy, I don't think
that. What else could you have done? You take too much on yourself.
After all, they're fine girls. I'm sure Nollie's a darling. It's these
modern notions, and this war. Cheer up! It'll all dry straight." He
went up to his brother and put a hand on his shoulder. Edward seemed to
stiffen under that touch.

"Nothing comes straight," he said, "unless it's faced; you know that,
Bob."

Robert's face was a study at that moment. His cheeks filled and
collapsed again like a dog's when it has been rebuked. His colour
deepened, and he rattled