and Ansell came to the house daily.

"Hullo, Stephen!"

But Stephen was now insensible.

"Stephen, you live here--"

"Good gracious me!" interposed Herbert. "My advice is, that we all go to
bed. The less said the better while our nerves are in this state. Very
well, Rickie. Of course, Wonham sleeps the night if you wish." They
carried the drunken mass into the spare room. A mass of scandal it
seemed to one of them, a symbol of redemption to the other. Neither
acknowledged it a man, who would answer them back after a few hours'
rest.

"Ansell thought he would never forgive me," said Rickie. "For once he's
wrong."

"Come to bed now, I think." And as Rickie laid his hand on the sleeper's
hair, he added, "You won't do anything foolish, will you? You are still
in a morbid state. Your poor mother--Pardon me, dear boy; it is my turn
to speak out. You thought it was your father, and minded. It is your
mother. Surely you ought to mind more?"

"I have been too far back," said Rickie gently. "Ansell took me on a
journey that was even new to him. We got behind right and wrong, to a
place where only one thing matters--that the Beloved should rise from
the dead."

"But you won't do anything rash?"

"Why should I?"

"Remember poor Agnes," he stammered. "I--I am the first to acknowledge
that we might have pursued a different policy. But we are committed to
it now. It makes no difference whose son he is. I mean, he is the same
person. You and I and my sister stand or fall together. It was our
agreement from the first. I hope--No more of these distressing scenes
with her, there's a dear fellow. I assure you they make my heart bleed."

"Things will quiet down now."

"To bed now; I insist upon that much."

"Very well," said Rickie, and when they were in the passage, locked the
door from the outside. "We want no more muddles," he explained.

Mr. Pembroke was left examining the hall. The bust of Hermes was broken.
So was the pot of the palm. He could not go to bed without once more
sounding Rickie. "You'll do nothing rash," he called. "The notion of him
living here was, of course, a passing impulse. We three have adopted a
common policy."

"Now, you go away!" called a voice that was almost flippant. "I never
did belong to that great sect whose doctrine is that each one should
select--at least, I'm not going to belong to it any longer. Go away to
bed."

"A good night's rest is what you need," threatened Herbert, and reti