,
unfortunately, never a strong woman."

"And your son?" she asked more confidently. "Is he back from South
Africa?"

"A year ago, madam," he answered. "He is engaged at present in the
estate office. He knows the work well----"

"The best place for him, of course," she interrupted. "We ought to do
all we can for our young men who went out to the war. I should like to
see your son, Mr. Hurd. Will you tell him to come up some day?"

"Certainly, madam," he answered.

"Perhaps he would like to shoot with my guests on Thursday?" she
suggested graciously.

Mr. Hurd did not seem altogether pleased.

"It has never been the custom, madam," he remarked, "for either my son
or myself to be associated with the Thorpe shooting parties."

"Some customs," she remarked pleasantly, "are well changed, even in
Thorpe. We shall expect him."

Mr. Hurd's mouth reminded her for a moment of a steel trap. She could
see that he disapproved, but she had no intention of giving way. He
began to tie up his papers, and she watched him with some continuance of
that wave of interest which he had somehow contrived to excite in her.
The signature of one of the letters which he was methodically folding,
caught her attention.

"What a strange name!" she remarked. "Victor Macheson! Who is he?"

Mr. Hurd unfolded the letter. The ghost of a smile flickered upon his
lips.

"A preacher, apparently," he answered. "The letter is one asking
permission to give a series of what he terms religious lectures in
Harrison's large barn!"

Her eyebrows were gently raised. Her tone was one of genuine surprise.

"What, in Thorpe?" she demanded.

"In Thorpe!" Mr. Hurd acquiesced.

She took the letter and read it. Her perplexity was in no manner
diminished.

"The man seems in earnest," she remarked. "He must either be a stranger
to this part of the country, or an extremely impertinent person. I
presume, Mr. Hurd, that nothing has been going on in the place with
which I am unacquainted?"

"Certainly not, madam," he answered.

"There has been no drunkenness?" she remarked. "The young people have, I
presume, been conducting their love-making discreetly?"

The lines of Mr. Hurd's mouth were a trifle severe. One could imagine
that he found her modern directness of speech indelicate.

"There have been no scandals of any sort connected with the village,
madam," he assured her. "To the best of my belief, all of our people are
industrious, sober and pious. T