s a rule, her judgment was cool and
sound, but she was human, and it began to look as if she were strongly
attracted by Jim Dearham.

"On the whole, it would be better if you did not go to Langrigg
to-morrow," Mrs. Halliday concluded. "You can make an excuse."

"I think not," said Evelyn. "You urged me not to disappoint Jim the
last time we went, but we will let this go. Now he has had bad luck,
it would look significant if you suddenly withdrew your approval. He
knew it was his not long since."

"In a way, I am forced to withdraw it. I like Jim----"

"But you do not like him to be poor," Evelyn interrupted with a smile.
"Well, it seems to me a proper and tactful line for his friends to
rally round him when he is in trouble."

"One can, of course, be sympathetic if one meets him."

Evelyn laughed. "But one need not go too far?" She paused and gave
her mother a steady look. "Langrigg is a fine old house, I don't
suppose Jim is ruined, and I have some money. Then you have taught me
to expect that I may get some more."

"Bernard is capricious. He has a bitter humor and may disappoint us
all. You have come to think refinement needful; you are extravagant
and could not live with an impoverished husband. Let me beg you not to
be obstinate and rash."

"Ah," said Evelyn, "I sometimes felt I would like to be rash, but was
not brave enough. I do not know if I have much courage now."

Mrs. Halliday got up. Perhaps she had said enough and after all one
could trust Evelyn when she was cool. It looked as if the girl's
disappointment had been sharp, and the wise plan was to leave her
alone. Yet she was puzzled; Evelyn had given signs of a recklessness
her mother thought new.

When Mrs. Halliday went out Evelyn tried to formulate her thoughts. To
begin with, her mother's calculating caution repelled her; it had made
her feel shabby. Then she had, no doubt, taken much for granted. Jim
had, perhaps, had bad luck, but this did not mean that he was
impoverished, and after all there were many expensive things one could
go without. She was not as greedy as some people thought. Indeed, it
would be rather fine to make a plunge; to let cold caution go and play
a romantic part.

She mused about Jim. He was marked by a certain roughness, but he had
dignity. He gave one pleasant thrills--there was the scene on the dyke
when she was half-shocked and yet strangely moved. His physical
fineness appealed; his figur