it
long ago, and had to put it by; but recently I have taken it up
again, without really knowing why, except that all my whole heart was
in it."

"What is it?" he asked. "I beg you to let me see it."

"No," she said. "It is not my affair, and I must remember that. It
concerns some most deplorable facts which I have discovered
concerning the management of the Kingdon Hall estates, but--"

"Then it is my affair," he interrupted her; "and since you know what
these abuses are, and have looked into them, you surely will not
deprive me of the help that you could give. I ask it as a favor."

Still Bettina hesitated, but he could see that she was longing to
comply. He could imagine, also, what it was that held her back.

"Not as a favor to me," he hastened to add; "I appeal to you in the
name of these poor tenants, who have been so long neglected and
abused. This is no new thing to me. I have seen it going on from the
time I was a boy here, and I can truly say that almost the only
pleasure that I have looked forward to in succeeding to the estates
has been the righting of these wrongs. Surely you will not refuse to
help me to do this."

For answer, Bettina turned upon him a pair of ardent eyes that swam
with tears.

"Oh, are you really going to do this blessed, glorious thing?" she
said. She had forgotten herself for the moment, and was thinking only
of them--the wretched beings whose wrongs had so long oppressed her,
and who, it seemed, were to have justice and care and kindness at
last. "You don't know how hideous the condition of these poor
creatures is, and how impossible it has been for me to do anything in
the past. To think there is some one who will let me tell about it at
last and give the help that is so needed! But you can do nothing with
such a steward as Kirke. His heart is as cold as ice."

"Kirke shall go at once. I have long believed that he was unworthy of
the position he holds. If you will give me the benefit of your
investigation and insight into the situation you will save me much
trouble, and you can also feel that these poor people will be that
much nearer to having their distress relieved."

At these prompt, determined words her heart swelled, and again tears
brimmed her eyes.

"Oh, thank God that you will help them!" she said. "Now that I am
sure of that, I can go away contented. It would have broken my heart
to leave them so--yet I had not dared to hope that I could do
anything. You have n