mestic
circle she comported herself in the arbitrary style that one attributes,
probably without the least justification, to an American political Boss
in the bosom of his caucus. The late Theodore Thropplestance had left
her, some thirty-five years ago, in absolute possession of a considerable
fortune, a large landed property, and a gallery full of valuable
pictures. In those intervening years she had outlived her son and
quarrelled with her elder grandson, who had married without her consent
or approval. Bertie Thropplestance, her younger grandson, was the heir-
designate to her property, and as such he was a centre of interest and
concern to some half-hundred ambitious mothers with daughters of
marriageable age. Bertie was an amiable, easy-going young man, who was
quite ready to marry anyone who was favourably recommended to his notice,
but he was not going to waste his time in falling in love with anyone who
would come under his grandmother's veto. The favourable recommendation
would have to come from Mrs. Thropplestance.

Teresa's house-parties were always rounded off with a plentiful
garnishing of presentable young women and alert, attendant mothers, but
the old lady was emphatically discouraging whenever any one of her girl
guests became at all likely to outbid the others as a possible
granddaughter-in-law. It was the inheritance of her fortune and estate
that was in question, and she was evidently disposed to exercise and
enjoy her powers of selection and rejection to the utmost. Bertie's
preferences did not greatly matter; he was of the sort who can be
stolidly happy with any kind of wife; he had cheerfully put up with his
grandmother all his life, so was not likely to fret and fume over
anything that might befall him in the way of a helpmate.

The party that gathered under Teresa's roof in Christmas week of the year
nineteen-hundred-and-something was of smaller proportions than usual, and
Mrs. Yonelet, who formed one of the party, was inclined to deduce hopeful
augury from this circumstance. Dora Yonelet and Bertie were so obviously
made for one another, she confided to the vicar's wife, and if the old
lady were accustomed to seeing them about a lot together she might adopt
the view that they would make a suitable married couple.

"People soon get used to an idea if it is dangled constantly before their
eyes," said Mrs. Yonelet hopefully, "and the more often Teresa sees those
young people together, h