delicate, floated on the wind.

While waiting for that answer, it had become Mr. Pendyce's habit to
promenade between these beds, his hand to his back, for he was still a
little stiff, followed at a distance of seven paces by the spaniel John,
very black, and moving his rubbery nostrils uneasily from side to side.

In this way the two passed every day the hour from twelve to one. Neither
could have said why they walked thus, for Mr. Pendyce had a horror of
idleness, and the spaniel John disliked the scent of irises; both, in
fact, obeyed that part of themselves which is superior to reason. During
this hour, too, Mrs. Pendyce, though longing to walk between her flowers,
also obeyed that part of her, superior to reason, which told her that it
would be better not.

But George's answer came at last.

"STOICS' CLUB.
"DEAR FATHER,

"Yes, Bellew is bringing a suit. I am taking steps in the matter. As to
the promise you ask for, I can give no promise of the sort. You may tell
Bellew I will see him d---d first.

"Your affectionate son,
"GEORGE PENDYCE."

Mr. Pendyce received this at the breakfast-table, and while he read it
there was a hush, for all had seen the handwriting on the envelope.

Mr. Pendyce read it through twice, once with his glasses on and once
without, and when he had finished the second reading he placed it in his
breast pocket. No word escaped him; his eyes, which had sunk a little
the last few days, rested angrily on his wife's white face. Bee and Norah
looked down, and, as if they understood, the four dogs were still. Mr.
Pendyce pushed his plate back, rose, and left the room.

Norah looked up.

"What's the matter, Mother?"

Mrs. Pendyce was swaying. She recovered herself in a moment.

"Nothing, dear. It's very hot this morning, don't you think? I'll Just
go to my room and take some sal volatile."

She went out, followed by old Roy, the Skye; the spaniel John, who had
been cut off at the door by his master's abrupt exit, preceded her.
Norah and Bee pushed back their plates.

"I can't eat, Norah," said Bee. "It's horrible not to know what's going
on."

Norah answered

"It's perfectly brutal not being a man. You might just as well be a dog
as a girl, for anything anyone tells you!"

Mrs. Pendyce did not go to her room; she went to the library. Her
husband, seated at his t