pleasure."

Herbert, sitting next to Randal, laid his hand affectionately on his
brother's shoulder. "Are you on our side?" he asked.

Randal hesitated.

"I feel inclined to agree with you," he said to Herbert. "It does seem
hard to recall Miss Westerfield to the miserable life that she has led,
and to do it in the way of all others which must try her fortitude most
cruelly. At the same time--"

"Oh, don't spoil what you have said by seeing the other side of the
question!" cried his brother "You have already put it admirably; leave
it as it is."

"At the same time," Randal gently persisted, "I have heard no reasons
which satisfy me that we have a right to keep Miss Westerfield in
ignorance of what has happened."

This serious view of the question in debate highly diverted Mrs. Presty.
"I do not like that man," she announced, pointing to Randal; "he
always amuses me. Look at him now! He doesn't know which side he is on,
himself."

"He is on my side," Herbert declared.

"Not he!"

Herbert consulted his brother. "What do you say yourself?"

"I don't know," Randal answered.

"There!" cried Mrs. Presty. "What did I tell you?"

Randal tried to set his strange reply in the right light. "I only mean,"
he explained, "that I want a little time to think."

Herbert gave up the dispute and appealed to his wife. "You have still
got the American newspaper in your hand," he said. "What do you mean to
do with it?"

Quietly and firmly Mrs. Linley answered: "I mean to show it to Miss
Westerfield."

"Against my opinion? Against your mother's opinion?" Herbert asked.
"Have we no influence over you? Do as Randal does--take time, my dear,
to think."

She answered this with her customary calmness of manner and sweetness of
tone. "I am afraid I must appear obstinate; but it is indeed true that I
want no time to think; my duty is too plain to me."

Her husband and her mother listened to her in astonishment. Too amiable
and too happy--and it must be added too indolent--to assert herself in
the ordinary emergencies of family life, Mrs. Linley only showed of what
metal she was made on the very rare occasions when the latent firmness
in her nature was stirred to its innermost depths. The general
experience of this sweet-tempered and delightful woman, ranging over
long intervals of time, was the only experience which remained in the
memories of the persons about her. In bygone days, they had been amazed
when her unexpected re