n walking back and forth in the path, and
once, as they turned, they looked at each other fixedly for the first
time. It was the deliberate frank scrutiny of old acquaintances who seek
affirmation of fading memories after long absence.

"As to the money, I want to protect her, as far as money can do it, from
hardship and need hereafter. I don't want you to think I offer it as
restitution--or--penance. I have plenty for myself; I'm giving up
nothing in doing it."

He tried to phrase carefully his disavowal of any thought that her gift
was a penitential act. He confessed that he had been concerned for
Phil's future; and that so far he had not been able to provide for her
in case of his death. This brought him to Amzi, whose devotion to Phil
he praised warmly. They met immediately upon the safe ground of Amzi's
nobility. Then they recurred to Phil. Presently as they passed the
veranda, she sat down on the steps and after a moment he seated himself
beside her. They had sat thus, looking out upon the newly planned
garden, when the mystery and wonder of Phil's coming filled their hearts
and minds.

"I've thought," she said, bending forward with her arms folded upon her
knees, "that Phil ought to travel--that I might take her away for a
little while." She waited for his assent; but when he was silent, she
hurried on to set herself right in this. "But I don't believe that would
be best. Not with me. Trotting around with me over there wouldn't do her
any good. It might spoil her point of view, which is--just right--sound
and healthy. The child's a genius. She wants to write--of course you
know that."

He did not know it. Jealousy pricked him at this sudden revelation of
something in Phil that he had not with all his opportunity realized.

"She's very clever," he responded tamely.

"It's more than that! She has a trunkful of stuff she's written--some of
it rubbish; some of it amazingly good."

He resented these appraisements of Phil's literary experiments. It was
disagreeable to hear from Phil's mother things which he should have
learned for himself. His trained analytical faculties were disturbed; he
had regarded the theory of the superior keenness of maternal perception
as rather fantastic. Phil had never confided her ambitions to him; in
fact, it was now clear that she had concealed them, perhaps fearing his
criticisms.

"She's so droll!"--and Lois laughed at some recollection. "She has a
delicious humor--her own spe