driv'ler and a show."

"Yes," said Schmidt thoughtfully--"yes; that is the ending I most should
fear."

"He is clear-headed enough to-day; but the men around him think too
much of their own interests, and he of his country alone."

"It may be better with this new cabinet."

"No; there will be less head."

"And more heart, I hope," said Schmidt.

"I could cry when I think of that man's life."

"Yes, it is sad enough; but suppose," said Schmidt, "we return to
Josiah."

"Well, if you must have it, Josiah has one honest affection outside of a
love-affair with Josiah--Margaret, of course."

"Yes; and what more?"

"He thinks she should be married, and proposes to arrange the matter."

The idea of Uncle Josiah as a matchmaker filled the German with comic
delight. He broke into Gargantuan laughter. "I should like to hear his
plan of campaign."

"Oh, dear Aunt Gainor," cried a voice from an upper window, "what is the
joke? Tell me, or I shall come down and find out."

"Go to bed, minx!" shouted Miss Gainor. "Mr. Schmidt is going to be
married, and I am to be bridesmaid. To bed with you!"

"Fie, for shame, Aunt! He will tell me to-morrow." The white figure
disappeared from the window.

"Oh, Josiah is set on it--really set on it, and you know his
possibilities of combining folly with obstinacy."

"Yes, I know. And who is the happy man?"

"The Vicomte de Courval, please."

Schmidt whistled low. "I beg your pardon, Mistress Gainor. Cannot you
stop him? The fool! What does he propose to do?"

"I do not know. He has an odd admiration for De Courval, and that is
strange, for he never contradicts him."

"The admiration of a coward for a brave man--I have known that more than
once. He will do Heaven knows what, and end in making mischief enough."

"I have scared him a little. He talked, the idiot, about his will, and
what he would or would not do. As if that would help, or as if the dear
child cares or would care. I said I had money to spare at need. He will
say nothing for a while. I do not mean to be interfered with. I told him
so."

"Did you, indeed?"

"I did."

"Mistress Gainor, you had better keep your own hands off and let things
alone. Josiah would be like an elephant in a rose garden."

"And I like--"

"A good, kindly woman about to make a sad mistake. You do not know the
mother's deep-seated prejudices, nor yet of what trouble lies like a
shadow on Rene's life. I should not dare to interfere."