were at once his property and
his hobby.

"It is a very healthy life, no doubt," she said; "but somehow it seems
incomprehensible to think of a man like yourself living always in such
an out-of-the-way corner, with no desire to see what is going on in the
world, or to be able to form any estimate of the changes in men's
thoughts and habits. Human life seems to me so much more interesting
than anything else. Does this all sound a little impertinent?" she wound
up naively. "I am so sorry! My friends spoil me, I believe, and I get
into the habit of saying things just as they come into my head."

John's lips were open to reply, but Stephen once more intervened.

"Life means a different thing to each of us, madam," he said sternly.
"There are many born with the lust for cities and the crowded places in
their hearts, born with the desire to mingle with their fellows, to
absorb the conventional vices and virtues, to become one of the
multitude. It has been different with us Strangeweys."

Jennings, at a sign from his master, removed the tea equipage, evidently
produced in honor of their visitor. Three tall-stemmed glasses were
placed upon the table, and a decanter of port reverently produced.

Louise had fallen for a moment or two into a fit of abstraction. Her
eyes were fixed upon the opposite wall, from which, out of their faded
frames, a row of grim-looking men and women, startlingly like her two
hosts, seemed to frown down upon her.

"Is that your father?" she asked, moving her head toward one of the
portraits.

"My grandfather, John Strangewey," Stephen told her.

"Was he one of the wanderers?"

"He left Cumberland only twice during his life. He was master of hounds,
magistrate, colonel in the yeomanry of that period, and three times he
refused to stand for Parliament."

"John Strangewey!" Louise repeated softly to herself. "I was looking at
your family tree up-stairs," she went on. "It is curious how both my
maid and myself were struck with a sense of familiarity about the name,
as if we had heard or read something about it quite lately."

Her words were almost carelessly spoken, but she was conscious of the
somewhat ominous silence which ensued. She glanced up wonderingly and
intercepted a rapid look passing between the two men. More puzzled than
ever, she turned toward John as if for an explanation. He had risen
somewhat abruptly to his feet, and his hand was upon the back of her
chair.

"Will it be dis