t his lips--he glanced sharply at his son.

"I think," he said, "that it would be advisable not to ask them."

"I should like to know why you object to my marrying Millicent,"
persisted Jack.

"Simply because I know a bad woman when I see her," retorted Sir John
deliberately.

Jack raised his eyebrows. He glanced towards the door, as if
contemplating leaving the room without further ado. But he sat quite
still. It was wonderful how little it hurt him. It was more--it was
significant. Sir John, who was watching, saw the glance and guessed
the meaning of it. An iron self-control had been the first thing he had
taught Jack--years before, when he was in his first knickerbockers. The
lesson had not been forgotten.

"I am sorry you have said that," said the son.

"Just," continued the father, "as I know a good one."

He paused, and they were both thinking of the same woman--Jocelyn
Gordon.

Sir John had said his say about Millicent Chyne; and his son knew that
that was the last word. She was a bad woman. From that point he would
never move.

"I think," said Jack, "that it is useless discussing that point any
longer."

"Quite. When do you intend getting married?"

"As soon as possible."

"A mere question for the dressmaker?" suggested Sir John suavely.

"Yes."

Sir John nodded gravely.

"Well," he said, "you are, as you say, no longer a child--perhaps I
forget that sometimes. If I do, I must ask you to forgive me. I will not
attempt to dissuade you. You probably know your own affairs best--"

He paused, drawing his two hands slowly back on his knees, looking into
the fire as if his life was written there.

"At all events," he continued, "it has the initial recommendation of a
good motive. I imagine it is what is called a love-match. I don't know
much about such matters. Your mother, my lamented wife, was an excellent
woman--too excellent, I take it, to be able to inspire the feeling in a
mere human being--perhaps the angels... she never inspired it in me, at
all events. My own life has not been quite a success within this room;
outside it has been brilliant, active, full of excitement. Engineers
know of machines which will stay upright so long as the pace is kept up;
some of us are like that. I am not complaining. I have had no worse a
time than my neighbours, except that it has lasted longer."

He leant back suddenly in his chair with a strange little laugh.
Jack was leaning forward, listening with tha