rhaps not about my house
and garden. There are a great many things that will have to be done in
the place when I get my affairs into order."

"Ah yes, of course; it's wonderful how the money flies. Here's Mr.
Curzon insisting that the schools must be enlarged; I expect you are
like him, and think that everybody ought to know everything, and that
each child must have so many cubic feet! I'm sure I can't cope with it
all. I only know we, who are a little better off, have to pay for it.
He wants me to give a hundred pounds, and I tell him I really can't:
fifty is the utmost, and that is more than I can afford. I advise you
to keep clear of him to-night; he's sure to ask you to subscribe a
similar sum."

"It's a voluntary school, I suppose?" said Paul, glancing across at the
rector. "I could not subscribe to that; I'm in favour of a board
school, you see."

Sally, looking from one to the other scented trouble, for Mr. Curzon
broke off in the middle of a sentence, and his smiling, kindly face
grew grave as he gazed steadily back at her brother. There was a
moment of uncomfortable silence.

"I was going to call and discuss the matter of the school with you,"
said Mr. Curzon, at last; "but I did not mean to introduce the subject
to-night."

"Of course not. We could not possibly allow it; could we, mother?"
interposed May, with an air of relief. "I feel at the present moment
we all need more cubic feet. It's so very hot; I almost think we could
sit outside." And as she spoke a general move was made for the
terrace, where seats and tables were arranged.

As neither of the men took wine they did not stay behind; and May, who
was clever enough to see that they were both ready to show fight for
their individual opinions, engaged Paul in conversation, whilst Mr.
Curzon carried off Sally to see the bowling-green by moonlight.

"I never saw anything so quaintly pretty," Sally said. "The yew hedge
with its succession of views suits it exactly."

"Yes, doesn't it?" replied her companion. "This is naturally my
favourite;" and he paused at the opening where, below, the church stood
out grand and stately against the evening sky. "Is it not a grand old
tower? It stands just as a church should; it dominates the place."

The ring of enthusiasm in his voice brought an answering thrill into
Sally's heart.

"Are you sure that it does really?" she asked, moved by a sudden
impulse.

"I hope so; I pray God it may be so