effort at self-deception, why does she fling herself into
it with such abandon--such pretentious flourishes of remorse--and
things? Is it because some under layer of her soul knows it will be the
last and will have it a thorough test? I wonder how much of an arrant
fraud a woman may really be to herself, even in her surest, happiest
moments."

"There you are again, wondering, wondering--instead of accepting things
and dressing for dinner. Have you seen Allan?"

"Oh, yes--I've been seeing him for three days--through a glass, darkly."

Aunt Bell flounced on into the library, trailing something perilously
near a sniff.

Bernal came down the stairs and stood in the door.

"Well, Nance!" He went to stand before her and she looked up to him.
There was still light enough to see his eyes--enough to see, also, that
he was embarrassed.

"Well--I've had quite a talk with Allan." He laughed a little
constrained, uneasy laugh, looking quickly at her to see if she might be
observing him. "He's the same fine old chap, isn't he?" Quickly his eyes
again sought her face. "Yes, indeed, he's the same old boy--a great old
Allan--only he makes me feel that I have changed, Nance."

She arose from her chair, feeling cramped and restless from sitting so
long.

"I'm sure you haven't changed, Bernal."

"Oh, I must have!"

He was looking at her very closely through the dusk.

"Yes, we had an interesting talk," he said again.

He reached out to take one of her hands, which he held an instant in
both his own. "He's a rare old Allan, Nance!"

CHAPTER XIII

THE WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS OF THE GREAT MACHINE

For three days the brothers were inseparable. There were so many ancient
matters to bring forward of which each could remember but a half; so
many new ones, of which each must tell his own story. And there was a
matter of finance between them that had been brought forward by Allan
without any foolish delay. Each of them spoke to Nancy about it.

"Bernal has pleased me greatly," said her husband. "He agrees that
Grandfather Delcher could not have been himself when he made that
will--being made as it was directly after he sent Bernal off. He finds
it absurd that the old man, so firm a Christian, should have
disinherited a Christian, one devoted to the ministry of Jesus, for an
unbeliever like Bernal. It is true, I talked to him in this strain
myself, and I cannot deny that I wield even a greater influence over men
than over