ays hope--I suppose."

"I have expressed myself clumsily as usual. The facts as God knows
'em--may be different--even after the most clinching evidence. I've
always said that--both as a lawyer and a man, but some people won't--I
don't want to judge 'em--we'll say they can't--believe it; whereas I
say there's always a working chance--a certainty--that the worst hasn't
happened." He stopped and cleared his throat. "Now, let's come on! This
time next week I shall be taking my holiday."

"What links?" I asked carelessly, while twins in a perambulator got out
of our line of fire.

"A potty little nine-hole affair at a hydro in the Midlands. My cousins
stay there. Always will. Not but what the fourth and the seventh holes
take some doing. You could manage it, though," he said encouragingly.
"You're doing much better. It's only your approach shots that are weak."

"You're right. I can't approach for nuts! I shall go to pieces while
you're away--with no one to coach me," I said mournfully.

"I haven't taught you anything," he said, delighted with the compliment.

"I owe all I've learned to you, anyhow. When will you come back?"

"Look here," he began. "I don't know, your engagements, but I've no one
to play with at Burry Mills. Never have. Why couldn't you take a few
days off and join me there? I warn you it will be rather dull. It's a
throat and gout place-baths, massage, electricity, and so forth. But the
fourth and the seventh holes really take some doing."

"I'm for the game," I answered valiantly; Heaven well knowing that I
hated every stroke and word of it.

"That's the proper spirit. As their lawyer I must ask you not to say
anything to my cousins about Holmescroft. It upsets 'em. Always did. But
speaking as man to man, it would be very pleasant for me if you could
see your way to--"

I saw it as soon as decency permitted, and thanked him sincerely.
According to my now well-developed theory he had certainly
misappropriated his aged cousins' monies under power of attorney, and
had probably driven poor Agnes Moultrie out of her wits, but I wished
that he was not so gentle, and good-tempered, and innocent eyed.

Before I joined him at Burry Mills Hydro, I spent a night at
Holmescroft. Miss M'Leod had returned from her Hydro, and first we made
very merry on the open lawn in the sunshine over the manners and customs
of the English resorting to such places. She knew dozens of hydros, and
warned me how to behave in