ns among the Tombs, and a volume or two
of sermons, to read on the way, and get my mind attuned to the
atmosphere of the place. My jokes there will be solemn and elaborate
offerings, prompted solely by a humane sense of necessity. But, Jane,
you are in a minority of one. Clarice has confidence in me: you ask her.
And so has Mabel: haven't you, my love?"

"Yes, certainly. Why, Jane, Robert is the only person who can possibly
manage this affair, since you and I can't well go, and Clarice does not
like to speak out herself. We could not commit it to a stranger, you
know. Robert knew Mr. Hartman before any of us did; they were old
friends at college. He is the natural link between them, you might say.
If he will only remember not to laugh in the wrong places, as he did
that time we took him to church, when the minister thumped his sermon
off the pulpit, and not to tell the wrong stories, as he so often does
at table, and not to yawn when Mr. Hartman explains how badly he has
been feeling since he left us, he will do very well. You can't expect
him to take the same interest in Mr. Hartman as in Clarice: would he
care for us as he does, if we were men? Jane, he is pointed out by
Providence as the means of reconciling them. You must see that he is to
be trusted entirely. Under his supervision it will all come right: I
said so from the beginning."

After this, there seemed no need of further remarks. Mabel withdrew
early, and I went out to smoke. When I came back, I found Jane again in
tears.

"Brother, tell me that you were only playing with me, and that you are
really in earnest about this matter, and will do your best to set it
straight."

"My dear sister, I will tell you anything you like, if you will only
believe me; what is the use, if you won't? Do you suppose I care less
for Clarice's happiness than you do--or for Jim's either? I wish you
would talk to her, and let her clarify your ideas. Faith, as you may
have heard in church, is a saving grace, and essential to peace of mind.
Within a month or two you will see whether I fail my friends or not, and
then perhaps you will learn to trust me. Jane, I believe in you now,
even if you don't believe in me; I would do almost anything to please
you. You want me to change my nature: I would do even that, but it is so
expensive, and then the new one might not fit as well as what I have
now. You are very exacting, but you can't quarrel with me, because I
will be no party to su