gether? By the
way, we are going to be near relatives. Don't you want to shake hands?"

"I'm very angry indeed!" maintained Margot stubbornly--nevertheless her
hand was in his, and her fingers involuntarily returned his pressure.
"Are you--_glad_! Do you think I shall--do? Does he seem _really_
happy?"

"Ah, my dear!" he sighed, and over the plump features there passed once
more the expression of infinite longing which Margot had seen once
before, when, in a moment of confidence, he had spoken of his dead love.
"Ah, my dear, how happy he is! There is no word to express such
happiness! George has not frittered away his affections on a number of
silly flirtations--his heart is whole, and it is wholly yours. Do you
owe me no thanks for bringing you together? You wanted to help your
brother; I wanted to help mine; so we are equally guilty or
praiseworthy, as the case may be. For myself I am very well satisfied
with the result?"

Margot blushed, and cast down her eyes.

"I'm satisfied, too!" she said shyly. "Much more than satisfied--and
Ron is enraptured. Have you seen him? He said he was coming to see you
first thing this morning!"

"Have I seen him, indeed? I should think I had! I thought I should
never get rid of the boy. I told him straight that the magazine comes
first to me, and that not even a prospective sister-in-law--with
dimples!--could induce me to accept a line for publication otherwise
than on its own merits. But the boy has power. I can't tell yet how
far it may go, but it's worth encouraging. When he gave me his
manuscript book to read I was struck by one fragment, and wrote it out
in shorthand, to publish as a surprise to you both. I like the lad, and
will be glad to help him so far as it is in my power. I can give him a
small post in this office, where at least he will be in the atmosphere;
but after that his future rests with himself. What he writes that is
worth publishing, I will publish, but it will be judged on its merits
alone, and without any remembrance of his private associations. He will
have his chance!"

He put out his hands and held her gently by the elbows, smiling at her
the while with the kindliest of smiles.

"Now are you satisfied, little girl? From the moment that you looked at
me with _her_ eyes, and asked my help, I have had no better wish than to
give it. I did not set about it quite in your own way, perhaps, but the
end is the same. Don't trouble any