ow she had given way to it. He was leaning back in his
chair, looking at her; and the tired look she had noticed in his eyes,
when she had been introduced to him in the drawing-room, had gone out of
them.

During the coffee, Mrs. Denton beckoned him to come to her; and Miss
Greyson crossed over and took his vacant chair. She had been sitting
opposite to them.

"I've been hearing so much about you," she said. "I can't help thinking
that you ought to suit my brother's paper. He has all your ideas. Have
you anything that you could send him?"

Joan considered a moment.

"Nothing very startling," she answered. "I was thinking of a series of
articles on the old London Churches--touching upon the people connected
with them and the things they stood for. I've just finished the first
one."

"It ought to be the very thing," answered Miss Greyson. She was a thin,
faded woman with a soft, plaintive voice. "It will enable him to judge
your style. He's particular about that. Though I'm confident he'll like
it," she hastened to add. "Address it to me, will you. I assist him as
much as I can."

Joan added a few finishing touches that evening, and posted it; and a day
or two later received a note asking her to call at the office.

"My sister is enthusiastic about your article on Chelsea Church and
insists on my taking the whole series," Greyson informed her. "She says
you have the Stevensonian touch."

Joan flushed with pleasure.

"And you," she asked, "did you think it had the Stevensonian touch?"

"No," he answered, "it seemed to me to have more of your touch."

"What's that like?" she demanded.

"They couldn't suppress you," he explained. "Sir Thomas More with his
head under his arm, bloody old Bluebeard, grim Queen Bess, snarling old
Swift, Pope, Addison, Carlyle--the whole grisly crowd of them! I could
see you holding your own against them all, explaining things to them,
getting excited." He laughed.

His sister joined them, coming in from the next room. She had a proposal
to make. It was that Joan should take over the weekly letter from
"Clorinda." It was supposed to give the views of a--perhaps
unusually--sane and thoughtful woman upon the questions of the day. Miss
Greyson had hitherto conducted it herself, but was wishful as she
explained to be relieved of it; so that she might have more time for home
affairs. It would necessitate Joan's frequent attendance at the office;
for there would b