d not my uncle endeavor to buy him off, and--for I know you have
been finding out things--I want you to tell me all about him."

"He would not take the money," said Miss Barrington, and sat in
thoughtful silence a space. Then, and perhaps she had a reason, she
quietly recounted Courthorne's Canadian history so far as her brother's
agents had been able to trace it, not omitting, dainty in thought and
speech as she was, one or two incidents which a mother might have kept
back from her daughter's ears. Still, it was very seldom that Miss
Barrington made a blunder. There was a faint pinkness in her face when
she concluded, but she was not surprised when, with a slow, sinuous
movement, the girl rose to her feet. Her cheeks were very slightly
flushed, but there was a significant sparkle in her eyes.

"Oh," she said, with utter contempt. "How sickening! Are there men
like that?"

There was a little silence, emphasized by the snapping in the stove,
and if Miss Barrington had spoken with an object she should have been
contented. The girl was imperious in her anger, which was caused by
something deeper than startled prudery.

"It is," said the little white-haired lady, "all quite true. Still, I
must confess that my brother and myself were a trifle astonished at the
report of the lawyer he sent to confer with Lance in Montana. One
would almost have imagined that he had of late been trying to make
amends."

The girl's face was very scornful. "Could a man with a past like that
ever live it down?"

"We have a warrant for believing it," said Miss Barrington quietly, as
she laid her hand on her companion's arm. "My dear, I have told you
what Lance was, because I felt it was right that you should know; but
none of us can tell what he may be, and if the man is honestly trying
to lead a different life, all I ask is that you should not wound him by
any manifest suspicion. Those who have never been tempted can afford
to be merciful."

Maud Barrington laughed somewhat curiously. "You are a very wise
woman, aunt, but you are a little transparent now and then," she said.
"At least he shall have a fair trial without prejudice or favor--and if
he fails, as fail he will, we shall find the means of punishing him."

"We?" said the elder lady, a trifle maliciously.

The girl nodded as she moved towards the doorway, and then turned a
moment with the folds of the big red curtain flung behind her. It
forced up the sweeping line