o compassion, which was always ready with her. He looked
harassed and nervous, as if he had borne a heavy strain, and she knew
that the accident had preyed upon his mind. That, she thought, was to his
credit. In addition to this, she had suspected that he was threatened
with financial difficulties. The man had a dangerous gift of rousing
women's interest and sympathy.

"I'm sorry," she said with sincere feeling. "You should go away for a
time. You need a change."

"I've thought of it; but I'm afraid I've been neglecting things lately
and there's a good deal that needs straightening up--farm buildings to be
looked to, the stream to dyke in the low ground, and that draining
scheme."

It was not all acting; he had meant to give those matters some attention
when he found it convenient, and she was far from suspicious and was
quick to take the most favorable view of any one. That he recognized his
duties and intended to discharge them gratified her.

"I think," she told him, "that if you undertake these things in earnest,
you'll be better for the occupation; and they certainly need looking
after."

"I've been slack," he owned. "I seemed to lose interest and, as I said,
I've had difficulties to distract me."

He had struck the right note again. Anything of the nature of a
confession or appeal for sympathy seldom failed to stir her.

"In fact," he resumed, "I'm not clear of troubles now. If I do half that
I'm asked to do, it will nearly ruin me, and I don't know where to begin.
I haven't any great confidence in Grierson's advice; he doesn't seem to
grip things readily."

"The trouble is that he has his favorites," she said bluntly. "I don't
think he suffers from any lack of understanding."

"What do you mean?"

It was unpleasant, but she had courage and the man was doing Clarence
harm.

"Well, there are people who can get very much what they ask Grierson for,
in the shape of repairs and improvements, whether they need it or not."

"At my expense, while the rest get less than they should have?"

"A number of your tenants have got practically nothing for some years.
It's false economy; you'll have to lay out twice as much as would keep
them here satisfied, when they leave you in disgust."

She supplied him with several instances of neglect, and a few clever
suggestions, and he looked at her in admiration which was only partly
assumed.

"What an administrator you would have made!" he exclaimed. "The place
woul