d David had succumbed. Not that
he allowed her--or anyone else--to know it. He kept at a respectable
distance, and worshipped in silence.

One evening while Pamela sat stitching at her embroidery in the little
parlour at Hillview her brother laid down the book he was reading, lit a
cigarette, and said suddenly, "What of the Politician, Pam?"

Pamela drew the thread in and out several times before she answered.

"The Politician is safe so far as I'm concerned. Only last week I wrote
and explained matters to him. He wrote a very nice letter in reply. I
think, on the whole, he is much relieved, though he expressed polite
regret. It must be rather a bore at sixty to become possessed of a wife,
even though she might be able to entertain well and manage people.... It
was a ridiculous idea always; I see that now."

Lord Bidborough regarded his sister with an amused smile. "I always did
regard the Politician as a fabulous monster. But tell me, Pam, how long
is this to continue? Are you so enamoured of the simple life that you
can go on indefinitely living in Miss Bathgate's parlour and eating
stewed steak and duck's eggs?"

Pamela dropped her embroidery-frame, looked at her brother with a
puzzled frown, and gave a long sigh.

"Oh, I don't know," she said--"I don't know. Of course it can't go on
indefinitely, but I do hate the thought of going away and leaving it
all. I love the place. It has given me a new feeling about life; it has
taught me contentment: I have found peace here. If I go back to the old
restless, hectic life I shall be, I'm afraid, just as restless and
feverishly anxious to be happy as I used to be. And yet, I suppose, I
must go back. I've almost had the three months I promised myself. But
I'm going to try and take Jean with me. Lewis Elliot and I mean to
arrange things so that Jean can have her chance."

"Why should Lewis Elliot have anything to do with it?"

Her brother's tone brought a surprised look into Pamela's eyes.

"Lewis is a relation as well as a very old friend. Naturally he is
interested. I should think it could easily be managed. The boys will go
to school, Mrs. M'Cosh will stay on at The Rigs, Jean will see something
of the world. Imagine the joy of taking Jean about! She will make
everything worth while. I don't in the least expect her to be what is
known as a 'success.' I can picture her at a ball thinking of her latter
end! Up-to-date revues she will hate, and I can't see her indulgin