nor did his answer disappoint her much. She was quite aware that he did
not take an absorbing interest in the questions which engrossed so much
of her own thought.

'The saddest thing about it is that nobody seems to care anything about
what has become of her,' she said, as she took the dainty Wedgewood
teapot in her hand. 'Just think if the same thing had happened to your
sister or either of your cousins, what a thing it would have been.'

'My dear Gladys, the cases are not parallel. Such things happen every
day, and nobody pays the least attention. And besides, such people do
not have the same feelings as us.'

Gladys looked at him indignantly.

'You only say so because you know nothing about them,' she said quickly.
'I do assure you the poor have quite as keen feelings as the rich, and
some things they feel even more, I think. Why, only to-day I had an
instance of it in the girl I have staying here. Her loyalty to Liz is
quite beautiful. I wish you would not judge so harshly and hastily.'

'I will think anything to please you, Gladys,' said George fervently.
'You must forgive me if I am a trifle sceptical. You see, a fellow has
his opinions moulded pretty much by his people, and mine don't take your
view of the lower classes.'

Again he was unfortunate in his choice of words. Gladys particularly
disliked the expression, 'lower classes,' and his apologetic tone did
not appease her.

'They judge them harshly because they know nothing about them, and never
will. One has to live among them, as I have done, to learn their good
qualities. It is the only way,' she said rather sadly.

George set down his cup on the tray, and lingered at the table, looking
down at her with a glance which might have disconcerted her.

'You are so awfully good, Gladys,' he said, quite humbly for him. 'I
wonder you can be half as civil as you are to a reprobate like me.'

'Are you a reprobate?' she asked, with a faint, wondering smile.

'I'm not as good as I should be,' he added frankly. 'But, you see, I've
never had anybody put things in the light you put them in. If I had, I
believe it would have made all the difference. Won't you take me in
hand?'

He threw as much significance as he dared into his last question; but
Gladys apparently did not catch his meaning.

'I don't like to hear you speak so,' was the unexpected reply. 'It is
like throwing the blame on other people. A man ought to be strong enough
to be and to do good on