itual egotism. He believed himself finely and sacredly in the
right, that he was frustrated by lower beings, above whom it was his
duty to rise, to soar. So he soared to serene heights, and his
Private Hotel seemed a celestial injunction, an erection on a higher
plane.

He saw the architect: and then, with his plans and schemes, he saw
the builder and contractor. The builder gave an estimate of six or
seven hundred--but James had better see the plumber and fitter who
was going to instal the new hot water and sanitary system. James was
a little dashed. He had calculated much less. Having only a few
hundred pounds in possession after Throttle-Ha'penny, he was
prepared to mortgage Manchester House if he could keep in hand a
sufficent sum of money for the running of his establishment for a
year. He knew he would have to sacrifice Miss Pinnegar's work-room.
He knew, and he feared Miss Pinnegar's violent and unmitigated
hostility. Still--his obstinate spirit rose--he was quite prepared
to risk everything on this last throw.

Miss Allsop, daughter of the builder, called to see Alvina. The
Allsops were great Chapel people, and Cassie Allsop was one of the
old maids. She was thin and nipped and wistful looking, about
forty-two years old. In private, she was tyrannously exacting with
the servants, and spiteful, rather mean with her motherless nieces.
But in public she had this nipped, wistful look.

Alvina was surprised by this visit. When she found Miss Allsop at
the back door, all her inherent hostility awoke.

"Oh, is it you, Miss Allsop! Will you come in."

They sat in the middle room, the common living room of the house.

"I called," said Miss Allsop, coming to the point at once, and
speaking in her Sunday-school-teacher voice, "to ask you if you know
about this Private Hotel scheme of your father's?"

"Yes," said Alvina.

"Oh, you do! Well, we wondered. Mr. Houghton came to father about
the building alterations yesterday. They'll be awfully expensive."

"Will they?" said Alvina, making big, mocking eyes.

"Yes, very. What do _you_ think of the scheme?"

"I?--well--!" Alvina hesitated, then broke into a laugh. "To tell
the truth I haven't thought much about it at all."

"Well I think you should," said Miss Allsop severely. "Father's sure
it won't pay--and it will cost I don't know how much. It is bound
to be a dead loss. And your father's getting on. You'll be left
stranded in the world without a penny to bles