rced by the sword of division.

"Has Theo heard all this?" Paul hazarded gently. "He went off in such
good spirits."

She dried her eyes, and looked up,

"I couldn't spoil it all by telling him. But I thought it might seem
less of a nightmare, if I could tell some one . . . and . . ."

"And I happened to come handy?" he suggested with a rather pathetic
smile.

"Oh, Paul, how horrid! It wasn't that," she contradicted him hotly.
"It was because you are . . you, my boy's godfather, and my very dear
friend. Do you suppose I would have shown my mother-foolishness to any
other man of my acquaintance?"

"No. I don't suppose it," he answered, looking steadily down into the
anxious beauty of her face. "Forgive my much less pardonable
foolishness, and let me help you, if that's possible. Are you really
thinking of going?"

"N . . no. I don't believe I am. Only . . for one mad moment, I felt
as if _nothing_ could hold me back. But children are such elastic
creatures; and if I arrived to find him quite frisky and well, think
how ashamed I should feel at having deserted Theo, and put him to so
much expense for nothing. But I do want to wire at once; though I
hardly like sending Theo's orderly . . ."

"Let me write it for you, and send my man," he volunteered, catching
gratefully at something definite to be done; and taking up a form he
prepared to write at her dictation.

"Reply prepaid, please; and addressed to Frank. I shall go straight
over there, and stay till I get the answer, I could never keep it up
with Theo all day. You saw how badly I did it at breakfast!--What's
that? Some one come?"

Sounds of arrival were followed by an unmistakable Irish voice in the
hall; and Honor hurriedly dabbed her eyes.

"Dear Frank, how clever of her! She can drive me over."

A minute later she was in the room; an angular workmanlike figure, in
sun helmet, and the unvarying coat and skirt. It was her one idea of a
dress,--drill in summer, tweed in winter. "An' be all that's sensible,
what more should an ugly woman want?" had been her challenge to a
misguided friend, who had suggested higher aspirations. "'Tis no
manner o' use to dress up a collection of limbs and features without
symmetry; an' it saves no end of mental wear and tear, to say nothing
of rupees, that's badly wanted for polo ponies."

She entered talking; and shook hands talking still.

"The top o' the morning to you both! 'Tis an unholy hour for