rt Briarfield. "The late owner--well, he did not
believe in using his home as a sort of hydro, or convalescent
establishment."

"No," said Olive, "I suppose he did not, but then one has one's duties."

"Yes, but duty is a word which is interpreted differently by different
people. For my own part, I do not see why one should open one's house to
everybody. Of course, it is not my business, but don't you think you
fulfilled your duty when you built your home of rest?"

"No," said Olive. "The Home of Rest, as you call it, is for strangers,
but those I invite here are people I have known. They come here as my
personal friends."

"You must have a lot of personal friends."

"I have, and really these last few years have been a revelation to me. I
never realised the number of over-worked gentlefolk there were, neither
did I ever dream of the amount of gratitude there is in the world."

"And do you mean to continue doing this--this--kind of thing, Miss
Castlemaine?"

"Yes, I think so."

"What, when you get married?"

"I shall never marry."

Herbert Briarfield looked at her steadily. For the last three years he
had been a suitor for Olive Castlemaine's hand, and although she had
given him no encouragement, he had never given up hope that he would one
day win her. Moreover, so certain was he that he would one day succeed,
that he had almost unconsciously assumed a kind of proprietary right
over her.

"Of course you will marry," he said, "and then you will think
differently. Your first duties then will be to your husband--and to--to
your position."

Olive Castlemaine did not reply. He had so often expressed this kind of
sentiment, that she did not think it worth while.

"Miss Castlemaine," continued Herbert Briarfield, "you will not be
offended if I speak plainly, will you?"

"I am not likely to be offended with my friends, Mr. Briarfield," she
said, "but there is one subject that should be debarred. You know very
well that I have made up my mind."

"Let no subject be debarred, Miss Castlemaine. It is not right that it
should be. If there were some one else, of course I should have to
regard your refusal as inevitable. But there is no one else--is there?"

Olive Castlemaine did not speak, but there was a look in her eyes which,
had Herbert Briarfield seen, he would have thought it wise to be silent.

"We are neither of us children," he went on; "I am thirty-six, and
therefore not ignorant of the world. I know t