and he's in contempt of court as long as he stays away. There
can't be any question of mercy till he comes back for trial."

"But if he came back," she persisted, "our giving up the property would
make them easier with him?"

"A corporation has no bowels of compassion, Miss Northwick. I shouldn't
like to trust one. The company has no legal claim on the estate. Unless
you think it has a moral claim, you'd better hold on to your property."

"And do you think it has a moral claim?"

Putney drew a long breath. "Well, that's a nice question." He stroked
his trousers down over his little thin leg, as he sat. "I have some
peculiar notions about corporations. I don't think a manufacturing
company is a benevolent institution, exactly. It isn't even a
sanitarium. It didn't come for its health; it came to make money, and it
makes it by a profit on the people who do its work and the people who
buy its wares. Practically, it's just like everything else that earns
its bread by the sweat of its capital--neither better nor worse."
Launched in this direction, Putney recalled himself with an effort from
the prospect of an irrelevant excursion in the fields of speculative
economy. "But as I understand, the question is not so much whether the
Ponkwasset Mills have a moral claim, as whether you have a moral
obligation. And there I can't advise. You would have to go to a
clergyman. I can only say that if the property were mine I should hold
on to it, and let the company be damned, or whatever could happen to a
body that hadn't a soul for that purpose."

Putney thrust his hand into his pocket for his tobacco; and then
recollected himself, and put it back.

"There, Suzette!" said Adeline.

Suzette had listened in a restive silence, while Putney was talking with
her sister. She said in answer to him: "I don't want advice about that.
I wished to know whether I could give up my part of the estate to the
company, and if you would do it for me at once."

"Oh, certainly," said Putney. "I will go down to Boston to-morrow
morning and see their attorney."

"Their attorney? I thought you would have to go to Mr. Hilary."

"He would send me to their lawyer, I suppose. But I can go to him first,
if you wish."

"Yes, I do wish it," said the girl. "I don't understand about the
company, and I don't care for it. I want to offer the property to Mr.
Hilary. Don't say anything but just that I wished to give it up, and my
sister consented. Don't say a