you. Do you think"--she drew herself up indignantly--"that you're
going to make me happy--by turning me out, and all--all of you going to
rack and ruin--when I've got that silly money lying in the bank? I won't
have it! I don't want to go and live in the Cowley Road! I won't go and
live in the Cowley Road! You promised father and mother to look after
me, Uncle Ewen, and it isn't looking after me--"

"You can't reproach me on that score as much as I do myself!" said Ewen
Hooper, with emotion. "There's something in that I admit--there's
something in that."

He began to pace the room. Presently, pausing beside Connie, he plunged
into an agitated and incoherent account of the situation--of the efforts
he had made to get even some temporary help--and of the failure of all
of them. It was the confession of a weak and defeated man; and as made
by a man of his age to a girl of Connie's, it was extremely painful.
Nora hid her eyes again, and Connie got paler and paler.

At last she went up to him, holding out again appealing hands.

"Please don't tell me any more! It's all right. I just love you, Uncle
Ewen--and--and Nora! I want to help! It makes me happy. Oh, why won't
you let me!"

He wavered.

"You dear child!" There was a silence. Then he resumed--as though
feeling his way--

"It occurs to me that I might consult Sorell. If he thought it right--if
we could protect you from loss--!"

Connie sprang at him and kissed him in delight.

"Of course!--that'll do splendidly! Mr. Sorell will see, at once, it's
the right thing for me, and my happiness. I can't be turned out--I
really can't! So it's settled. Yes--it's settled!--or it will be
directly--and nobody need bother any more--need they? But--there's one
condition."

Ewen Hooper looked at her in silence.

"That you--you and Nora--go to Borne this Christmas time, this very
Christmas, Uncle Ewen! I think I put in enough--and I can give you such
a lot of letters!"

She laughed joyously, though she was very near crying.

"I have never been able to go to Home--Or Athens--never!" he said, in a
low voice, as he sat down again at his table. All the thwarted hopes,
all the sordid cares of years were in the quiet words.

"Well, now you're going!" said Connie shyly. "Oh, that would be ripping!
You'll promise me that--you must, please!"

Silence again. She approached Nora, timidly.

"Nora!"

Nora rose. Her face was stained with tears.

"It's all wrong," she said hea