who were there was that
it taught us to judge men by their good points rather than their
defects. It upset all our preconceived notions about society, especially
our notions about the extreme value of race and breeding. What we
learnt was that there's a breeding of the heart which enables a man from
the gutter to run true to the highest form."

Sir Tobias leveled his weary eyes in challenge. "Then what about Adair?"

The name was out at last--the name which he had been trying to get
uttered all evening. It didn't matter that Adair hadn't been at the war
and had no proper place in the argument. He had wanted to break through
his reticence due to his sense of impending family disaster. At last he
had done it.

"I think, Daddy," Terry said, "the General and I had better leave you
and Tabs to talk alone."

The next thing that Tabs saw was Terry making her escape with this other
man. He had it in his power to settle his suspense for all time by
saying, "One minute, Terry. You're choosing between the General and
myself. It may help you in making your decision to know that Braithwaite
was once----" But the coster's definition of fair-play deterred him.
This man had been his pal in the trenches; because of that he allowed
himself for the second time that day to be shut out from the company of
youth. He hadn't discovered how much or how little she knew. By her
withdrawal he was made to feel middle-aged--more nearly her father's
contemporary than ever. Yet, as an underlying comfort to his distress,
he had the remembered pressure of the little hand that had sought his
own in secret friendliness.

He turned to Sir Tobias. "Yes, what about Adair? Terry said that you
wanted to consult me. If there's anything that I can say or do----"

VIII

The door was reopening. Tabs glanced back across his shoulder through
the shadows. She was hovering just inside the threshold, hastily clad in
her evening-wrap; beyond her in the hall the General stood fidgeting
with his cap. Sir Tobias was sitting with his head bowed; he had not
heard the sound of her reentry. He spoke evidently believing that they
two were alone. "I don't like that fellow. It's the last time he ever
comes to my house. Whatever Terry can see in him---- And he's not good
for Terry."

She tiptoed back into the hall, pulling the door softly behind her. A
moment later the front door closed with a bang.

"What was that?" Sir Tobias looked up gnome-like and startled.

T