ng for whom you have a
special aversion you can get out, and hide in the shrubbery. I promise
not to tell. Perhaps I may come with you. I am not fond of afternoon
calls."

"Don't encourage her, please, Mr Druce," said Ruth quickly. "Mollie
talks a lot of nonsense which she doesn't mean; but if people are kind
enough to come here to see us, she must not be so rude as to refuse to
see them. I am sure Uncle Bernard would be very angry if we did not
receive them properly."

But Mollie was obstinate this time, and refused to be put down.

"How do you know?" she asked rebelliously. "He might be very pleased
with me for sharing his own retiring tastes! He said himself that he
approved of what other people would consider a fault. Perhaps he likes
unsociability. There's as much chance of that as anything else!"

Victor Druce came back from his tour of investigation, but instead of
taking his former seat, leant up against the stem of a huge palm-tree,
whose topmost leaves touched the glass roof, folded his arms and looked
down at the two girls with an intent, curious scrutiny.

"It's an odd position," he said slowly, "a very odd position for us all
to be plunged in at a moment's notice! None of us have any knowledge of
Mr Farrell's tastes, so any attempts to please him must be entirely
experimental. If we please him we may thank our good fortune; if we
offend, we can, at least, feel innocent of any bad intentions. It's
rather a disagreeable position, but I expect the poor old fellow shirks
being left to himself any longer, though he would die rather than
acknowledge it. It's dull work being left alone when one is ill.
Personally, it is extremely inconvenient for me to be away from home for
three months, but I shall manage it somehow. One can't refuse a request
from a man in his condition, and it would be a pleasure to cheer the
poor old fellow a bit, even at the cost of one's own comfort."

There was silence for a moment after he had ceased speaking. Jack
Melland stared at the ground, and swung his feet gently to and fro.
Ruth knitted her black brows, and Mollie looked puzzled and thoughtful.
It was a kind speech. She would have liked to admire it thoroughly,
but--did it ring quite true? Was there not something unnatural in the
avoidance of any reference by the speaker to his own possible gain?

"I'm afraid I didn't think much of Uncle Bernard; I was too busy
thinking of myself. I want to have a good time