when he is beginning to feel old and tired, and would be glad of a
son's help. It is not easy to give up the dream of twenty years!"

Ronald felt conscience-stricken. He knew in his own heart that he would
find it next to impossible to relinquish his own dawning ambitions, and
the thought silenced his complaints. He looked at his sister and smiled
his peculiarly sweet smile.

"You have a wide heart, Margot. It can sympathise with both plaintiff
and defendant at the same time."

"Why, of course!" asserted Margot easily. "I love them both, you see,
and that makes things easy. Go to bed, dear boy, and dream of Glenaire!
Your chance is coming at the eleventh hour."

The light flashed in the lad's eyes as he bent his head for the good-
night kiss--a light of hope and expectation, which was his sister's best
reward.

Ron had worked, fretted, and worried of late, and his health itself
might break down under the strain, for his constitution was not strong.
During one long, anxious year there had been fear of lung trouble, and
mental agitation of any kind told quickly upon him. Margot's thoughts
flew longingly to the northern glen where the wind blew fresh and cool
over the heather, with never a taint of smoke and grime to mar its God-
given purity. All that would be medicine indeed, after the year's
confinement in the murky city! Ron would lift up his head again, like a
plant refreshed with dew; body and mind alike would then expand in
jubilant freedom.

Margot crept down the darkened staircase, treading with precaution as
she passed her sister's room. The hall beneath was in utter darkness,
for it was against Agnes's economical instincts to leave a light burning
after eleven o'clock, even for the convenience of the master of the
house. When Mr Vane demurred, she pointed out that it was the easiest
thing in the world for him to put a match to the candle which was left
waiting for his use, and that each electric light cost--she had worked
it all out, and mentioned a definite and substantial sum which would be
wasted by the end of the year if the light were allowed to burn in hall
or staircase while he enjoyed his nightly read and smoke.

"Would you wish this money to be wasted?" she asked calmly; and thus
questioned, there was no alternative but to reply in the negative. It
would never do for the head of the house to pose as an advocate of
extravagance; but all the same he was irritated by the necessity, and