se."

"Good night," the son said, suggestively, "I suppose there isn't really
anything more?"

"No, what could there be? You had better go to bed."

"And you, too, I hope, father."

"Oh, I shall go to bed--as a matter of form."

The son laughed. "I wish you could carry your formality so far as to go
to sleep, too. I shall."

"I sha'n't sleep," said the father, bitterly. "When things like this
happen, someone has to lie awake and think about them."

"Well, I dare say Northwick's doing that."

"I doubt it," said Hilary. "I suspect Northwick is enjoying a refreshing
slumber on the Montreal express somewhere near St. Albans about this
time."

"I doubt if his dreams are pleasant. After all, he's only going to a
larger prison if he's going into exile. He may be on the Montreal
express, but I guess he isn't sleeping," said Matt.

"Yes," his father admitted. "Poor devil! He'd much better be dead."

IX.

The groom who drove Miss Sue Northwick down to the station at noon that
day, came back without her an hour later. He brought word to her sister
that she had not found the friend she expected to meet at the station,
but had got a telegram from her there, and had gone into town to lunch
with her. The man was to return and fetch her from the six o'clock
train.

She briefly explained at dinner that her friend had been up at four
balls during the week, and wished to beg off from the visit she had
promised until after the fifth, which was to be that night.

"I don't see how she lives through it," said Adeline. "And at her age,
it seems very odd to be just as fond of dancing as if she were a bud."

"Louise is only twenty-three," said Suzette. "If she were married, she
would be just in the heart of her gayeties at that age, or even older."

"But she isn't married, and that makes all the difference."

"Her brother is spending the month at home, and she makes the most of
his being with them."

"Has he given up his farming? It's about time."

"No; not at all, I believe. She says he's in Boston merely as a matter
of duty, to chaperon her at parties, and save her mother from having to
go with her."

"Well," said Adeline, "I should think he would want to be of _some_ use
in the world; and if he won't help his father in business, he had better
help his mother in society."

Suzette sat fallen back in her chair for the moment, and she said as if
she had not heeded, "I think I will give a little dance here, next