hat I really want to know is
what you propose to do to help me to attain a position in which I _can_
educate my children as we both should wish."

"I don't quite see where I come in."

"My dear Jan, that's absurd. You have money--and a few hundreds now will
start me again...."

"Start you again in what direction?"

"That's what we've got to thresh out. I've several propositions to lay
before you."

"All propositions will have to be submitted to Mr. Davidson."

"That's nonsense. You must remember that I could contest Fay's will if I
liked--it was grossly unfair to leave that two thousand pounds away from
me."

"She left it to her children, Hugo, and _you_ must remember you spent
eight thousand pounds of her money."

"_I_ didn't spend it. Do you think _I_ benefited? The investments were
unfortunate, I grant you, but that's not to say I had it."

"Anyway that money is gone."

"And the sooner I set about making some more to replace it the better,
but I must have help."

"It takes every penny of my income to run things here."

"Well, you know, Jan, to be quite candid, I think it's rather ridiculous
of you to live here. You could let this place easily and for a good
rent. In a smaller house you'd be equally comfortable and in easier
circumstances. I'm not at all sure I approve of my children being
brought up with the false ideas they will inevitably acquire if they
continue to live in a big place like this."

"You see, Hugo, it happens to be my house, and I'm fond of it."

"No doubt, but if you make a fetish of the house, if the house stands in
the way of your helping your own flesh and blood...."

"I don't think I've ever refused to help my _own_ relations."

"Which means, I suppose, that your sister's husband is nothing to you."

Jan rose. "You are rather unjust, I think," she said quietly. "I must
put the children first."

"And suppose you marry----"

"I certainly wouldn't marry any man who would object to my doing all I
could for my sister's children."

"You think so now, but wait till a man comes along. You're just getting
to the age, Jan, when a woman is most apt to make a fool of herself over
a man. And, remember this, I'd much rather my children were brought up
simply with my people in Guernsey than that they should grow up with all
sorts of false ideas with nothing to back them."

Jan clenched her teeth, and though outwardly she was silent, her soul
was repeating, "I _will_ not fear," over