on,
tentatively, and then paused for possible remarks. He was not going to
meddle in this thing himself, and Gorringe was the only other who might
have an opinion to offer. The necessities of the situation forced him
to glance at the lawyer inquiringly. He did so, and turned his eyes away
again like a shot. Gorringe was looking him squarely in the face, and
the look was freighted with satirical contempt.

The young minister spoke between clinched teeth. "All those in favor
will say aye."

Brothers Pierce and Winch put up a simultaneous and confident "Aye."

"No, you don't!" interposed the lawyer, with deliberate, sneering
emphasis. "I decidedly protest against Winch's voting. He's directly
interested, and he mustn't vote. Your chairman knows that perfectly
well."

"Yes, I think Brother Winch ought not to vote," decided Theron, with
great calmness. He saw now what was coming, and underneath his surface
composure there were sharp flutterings.

"Very well, then," said Gorringe. "I vote no, and it's a tie. It rests
with the chairman now to cast the deciding vote, and say whether this
interesting arrangement shall go through or not."

"Me?" said Theron, eying the lawyer with a cool self-control which had
come all at once to him. "Me? Oh, I vote Aye."

CHAPTER XVII

"Well, I did what you told me to do," Theron Ware remarked to Sister
Soulsby, when at last they found themselves alone in the sitting-room
after the midday meal.

It had taken not a little strategic skirmishing to secure the room to
themselves for the hospitable Alice, much touched by the thought of her
new friend's departure that very evening had gladly proposed to let all
the work stand over until night, and devote herself entirely to Sister
Soulsby. When, finally, Brother Soulsby conceived and deftly executed
the coup of interesting her in the budding of roses, and then leading
her off into the garden to see with her own eyes how it was done, Theron
had a sense of being left alone with a conspirator. The notion impelled
him to plunge at once into the heart of their mystery.

"I did what you told me to do," he repeated, looking up from his low
easy-chair to where she sat by the desk; "and I dare say you won't be
surprised when I add that I have no respect for myself for doing it."

"And yet you would go and do it right over again, eh?" the woman
said, in bright, pert tones, nodding her head, and smiling at him with
roguish, comprehending eyes