ability of any kind. If
Miss Lentaigne's eyes really did sparkle they expressed a perfectly
natural delight. There is nothing more trying than to possess a power of
healing and to find no opportunity for exercising it.

"Perhaps," she said, "Frank and I may have a little talk together after
luncheon."

Sir Lucius was a man of hospitable instincts with high old-fashioned
ideas of the courtesy due by a host to his guest He did not think it
quite fair to subject Frank to a course of Christian Science. But he
was also very much afraid of his sister, whom he recognised as his
intellectual superior. He cleared his throat and made a nervous protest
on Frank's behalf.

"I'm not sure, Juliet," he said, "I'm really not at all sure that your
theory quite applies to sprains, especially ankles."

Miss Lentaigne smiled very gently. Her face expressed a tolerant
patience with the crude ideas entertained by her brother.

"Of course," Sir Lucius went on, "there's a great deal in your idea.
I've always said so. In the case of any internal disease, nerves you
know, and that kind of thing where there's nothing actually visible, I'm
sure it works out admirably, quite admirably, but with a sprained ankle!
Come now, Juliet, there's the swelling you know. You can't deny the
swelling. Hang it all, you can measure the swelling with a tape. Is your
ankle much swelled, Frank?"

"A good deal. But it's not worth making a fuss about. It'll be all
right."

Miss Lentaigne smiled again. In her opinion it was all right already.
There was not really any swelling, although Frank, in his ignorance,
might honestly think there was. She hoped, after luncheon, to convince
him of these pleasant truths.

Sir Lucius was a coward at heart. He was exceedingly sorry for his
nephew, but he made no further effort to save him from the ministrations
of Miss Lentaigne. Nor did he venture to mention the name of O'Hara, the
excellent, though occasionally inebriate, local practitioner. Frank,
as yet unaware of the full beauty of the scientific Christian method of
dealing with illness, was very polite to Miss Lentaigne during luncheon.
He talked to her about Parliament and its doings as a subject likely to
interest her, assuming the air of a man who knows the inner secrets
of the Cabinet. He did, in fact, know a good deal about the habits and
manners of our legislators, having picked up details of an interesting
kind from his father. Miss Lentaigne was greatly delig