But the old man surprised Estelle by failing to share her delight at
Abel's decision. She for her part felt that the grand difficulty was
passed, and that once in his father's Mill, the boy must sooner or later
come to reason, if only by the round of self-interest; but Mr.
Churchouse reminded her that another had to be reckoned with.

"A most delicate situation would be created in that case," he said. "Of
course I can't pretend to say how Raymond will regard it. He may see it
with your eyes. He sees so many things with your eyes--more and more, in
fact--that I hope he will; but you mustn't be very disappointed if he
does not. This cannot look to him as it does to you, or even to me. His
point of view may reject Abel's suggestion altogether for various
reasons; and Sabina, too, will very likely feel it couldn't happen
without awakening a great many painful memories."

"She advised us to consult Abel and hear what he thought."

"We have. We return with the great man's ultimatum. But I'm afraid it
doesn't follow that his ultimatum will be accepted. Even if Sabina felt
she could endure such an arrangement, it is doubtful in the extreme
whether Raymond will. Indeed I'll go so far as to prophesy that he
won't."

Estelle saw that she had been over-sanguine.

"There's one bright side, however," he continued. "We have got something
definite out of the boy and should now be able to help him largely in
spite of himself. Every day he lives, he'll become more impressed with
the necessity for knowledge, and if, for the moment, he declines any
alternative, he'll soon come round to one. He knows already that he
can't stop at Knapp, so this great and perilous adventure of the
automobile has been successful--though how successful we cannot tell
yet."

He knew, however, before the day was done, for Sabina felt very
definitely on the subject. Yet her attitude was curious: she held it not
necessary to express an opinion.

Mr. Churchouse came home very cold, and while she attended to his needs,
brought him hot drink and lighted a fire, Sabina listened.

"The boy is exceedingly well," he said. "I never saw his eye so bright,
or his skin so clear and brown. But a farmer he won't be for anybody. Of
course, one never thought he would."

When she had heard Abel's idea, she answered without delay.

"It's a thousand pities he's set his heart on that, because it won't
happen. What I think doesn't matter, of course, but for once you'll