a, putting
away her playfulness, "when a young lady wants to talk pure business,
she'd better talk with her father, don't you think so?"

"As a rule, yes. And, as a rule, I make no doubt that's what you would
do."

Barbara's reply was meditative. "One reason why I want to talk about
this business at all this evening is also a strong reason why I don't
talk about it to pop-a."

"I see; he's almost as fascinated with it as Mr. March is."

"It means so very much to the college, Mr. Fair, and you know he's
always been over eyes and ears in love with it; it's his life." She
paused and then serenely seized the strategic point at which she had
hours before decided to begin this momentous invasion. "Mr. Fair, why,
do you reckon, Mr. Ravenel has consented to act as commissioner?"

Fair laughed. "You mean is it trust or distrust?"

"Yes, sir; which do you reckon it is?"

He laughed again. "I'm not good at reckoning."

"You can guess," she said archly.

"Yes, we can both do that. Miss Garnet, I don't believe your _father_ is
actuated by distrust; he believes in the scheme. You, I take it, do not,
and you are solicitous for him. Do I not guess rightly?"

"I don't think I'm more solicitous than a daughter should be. Pop-a has
only me, you know. Didn't you believe in Mr. March's plan at one time,
sir?"

"I believed thoroughly, as I do still, in Mr. March. I also had, and
still have, some belief in his plan; but"--confidentially--"I have no
belief in----"

"Certain persons," said Barbara so slowly and absently that Fair smiled
again as he said yes. They sat in silence for some time. Then Barbara
said, meditatively, "If even Mr. March could only be made to see that
certain persons ought not to have part in his enterprise--but you can't
tell him that. I didn't see it so until now. It would seem like pique."

"Or a counter scheme," said Fair. "Would you wish him told?"

"You admit I have a right to a daughter's solicitude?"

"Surely!" Fair pondered a moment. "Miss Garnet, if the opportunity
offers, I am more than willing you should say to Mr. March----"

"I rarely meet him, but still----"

"That I expressed to you my conviction that unless he gets rid of----"

"Certain----" said Barbara.

"Persons," said Fair, "his scheme will end in loss to his friends and in
ruin to him."

"And would that be"--Barbara rose dreamily--"a real service to pop-a?"

Fair gave his arm. "I think it the best you can render; only, your