an ever as to her
hospitable intentions. Jack had told her many times that she was his good
angel, and it did not seem to her that now, when he was so deeply involved
in so much trouble, was the hour for a man's good angel to quietly turn
away. Suppose he was haughty!--she knew men well enough to know that in his
case haughtiness and shame would be two Dromios that even he himself would
be unable to tell apart. Suppose he did rebel against her kindness!--she
knew women well enough to know that under some circumstances they can put
down rebellion single-handed--if they can only be left in the room alone
with it for a few minutes. As regarded Jack, she knew that there was
something to explain; and as to herself she was delightfully positive as
to her own irresistibleness. Given two such statements and the conclusion
is easy. Mrs. Rosscott wrote to Mitchell and here is what she wrote:

MY DEAR MR. MITCHELL:

I should have answered your letter before only that in the
excitement of corresponding with my brother I forgot all else. But
my manners have returned by slow degrees and in hunting through my
desk for a bill I found you and so take up my pen.

I am quite sure that--in spite of that beautiful opening play of
mine--you are wondering why I am really writing and so I will tell
you at once. When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr. Denham
to come too. I have various reasons for wanting him to come. One
is that he has nowhere else to go where he will have half as good
a time as he will here and another is that if he goes anywhere
else I won't have half as good a time as if he comes here. Pray
excuse my brutal candor, but I am only a woman; brutal candor and
womanly weakness always have gone about encouraging one another,
you know. I cannot see any good reason for Mr. Denham's not coming
except that he declines my invitation. It is very silly in him,
and I regard it as no reason at all. I am quite unused to being
declined and do not intend to acquire the habit until I am a good
deal older than I was my last birthday. Still, I can understand
that he is too big to force against his will, so I think the
kindest way to break the back of the opposition will be for me to
do it personally. As an over-ruler I nearly always succeed. All I
require is an opportunity.

Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly together and devi