thing to say against them,' urged Mrs
Yule. 'Not a word to me, Marian. I'd tell you the truth if he had.'

'It's too disagreeable, all the same. I can't invite them here with
pleasure. Father has grown prejudiced against them all, and he won't
change. No, I shall just tell them.'

'It's very hard for you,' sighed her mother. 'If I thought I could do
any good by speaking--but I can't, my dear.'

'I know it, mother. Let us go on as we did before.'

The day after this, when Yule came home about the hour of dinner, he
called Marian's name from within the study. Marian had not left the
house to-day; her work had been set, in the shape of a long task
of copying from disorderly manuscript. She left the sitting-room in
obedience to her father's summons.

'Here's something that will afford you amusement,' he said, holding
to her the new number of The Current, and indicating the notice of his
book.

She read a few lines, then threw the thing on to the table.

'That kind of writing sickens me,' she exclaimed, with anger in her
eyes. 'Only base and heartless people can write in that way. You surely
won't let it trouble you?'

'Oh, not for a moment,' her father answered, with exaggerated show of
calm. 'But I am surprised that you don't see the literary merit of the
work. I thought it would distinctly appeal to you.'

There was a strangeness in his voice, as well as in the words, which
caused her to look at him inquiringly. She knew him well enough to
understand that such a notice would irritate him profoundly; but why
should he go out of his way to show it her, and with this peculiar
acerbity of manner?

'Why do you say that, father?'

'It doesn't occur to you who may probably have written it?'

She could not miss his meaning; astonishment held her mute for a moment,
then she said:

'Surely Mr Fadge wrote it himself?'

'I am told not. I am informed on very good authority that one of his
young gentlemen has the credit of it.'

'You refer, of course, to Mr Milvain,' she replied quietly. 'But I think
that can't be true.'

He looked keenly at her. He had expected a more decided protest.

'I see no reason for disbelieving it.'

'I see every reason, until I have your evidence.'

This was not at all Marian's natural tone in argument with him. She was
wont to be submissive.

'I was told,' he continued, hardening face and voice, 'by someone who
had it from Jedwood.'

Yule was conscious of untruth in this statement