artificial. After telling Mordaunt to sit down, she remarked:

"I understand you went to Langrigg."

"I did go," said Mordaunt. "My visit was not a success."

"Perhaps it's curious, but Evelyn's judgment was better than ours. She
doubted if you would succeed."

"I believe she said you ought to go, because the thing needed a lighter
touch than mine."

Mrs. Halliday smiled. "Your touch is not often clumsy, Lance. But
what line did Jim take? I suppose we must call him Jim."

"A significant concession, but he certainly shows the Dearham vein! He
used some warmth and indulged a little raw sentiment. Expediency
doesn't count for much with him."

"You mean his Canadian friends are going to remain?"

"Yes," said Mordaunt. "As long as they like! I imagine they will stay
some time."

Mrs. Halliday waited for a moment. She thought Lance understood there
was something else she wanted to know, but he was silent and she
remarked:

"After all, they might be left in the background. Besides, the girl's
mother is there."

"It is hard to keep a Canadian in the background and Jim won't try.
Still he made an interesting statement; he has not thought about
marrying the daughter!"

"That is some relief. Well, something depends on Bernard."

Mordaunt agreed. Much depended on Bernard. The old man was rich and
Mordaunt had much less money than he would like; indeed he had long
reckoned on an improvement in his fortune when Bernard died. His
claim, however, was not as strong as Jim's, and Bernard was eccentric.
But Mrs. Halliday resumed:

"Is Jim able to keep up Langrigg properly?"

"He was not remarkably frank about this. He stated he might not be
able to do all he would like."

"Well, I have no doubt you gave him good advice, and your trying to
persuade him was generous."

Mordaunt thought he had been generous, because if he had persuaded Jim
to rule in a way Bernard approved and the latter made him his heir, all
that Jim got would be taken from the others. To some extent, he had
been sincere, but he could not claim that he had done his best. A
feeling of antagonism had sprung up and perhaps he had let this
influence him.

"It's unfortunate Jim was obstinate," Mrs. Halliday went on. "His
keeping these people is awkward, but after all it will cost him most,
and he is one of us----."

"Jim has Langrigg," said Mordaunt, smiling. "Our duty is to
acknowledge and, if needful, indulge him."

"I don't l