at my brother-in-law is suddenly obliged to
go home. She has decided not to remain behind, and they are to sail a
fortnight hence. She wants very much to see me before she goes, and as I
don't know when I shall see her again, I feel as if I ought to join
her immediately and spend the interval with her. That will take about a
fortnight."

"I appreciate the sanctity of family ties and I project myself into
your situation," said Bernard. "On the other hand, I don't envy you a
breathless journey from Baden to Folkestone."

"It 's the coming back that will be breathless," exclaimed Gordon,
smiling.

"You will certainly come back, then?"

"Most certainly. Mrs. Vivian is to be here another month."

"I understand. Well, we shall miss you very much."

Gordon Wright looked for a moment at his companion.

"You will stay here, then? I am so glad of that."

"I was taking it for granted; but on reflection--what do you recommend?"

"I recommend you to stay."

"My dear fellow, your word is law," said Bernard.

"I want you to take care of those ladies," his friend went on. "I don't
like to leave them alone."

"You are joking!" cried Bernard. "When did you ever hear of my 'taking
care' of any one? It 's as much as I can do to take care of myself."

"This is very easy," said Gordon. "I simply want to feel that they have
a man about them."

"They will have a man at any rate--they have the devoted Lovelock."

"That 's just why I want them to have another. He has only an eye to
Miss Evers, who, by the way, is extremely bored with him. You look after
the others. You have made yourself very agreeable to them, and they like
you extremely."

"Ah," said Bernard, laughing, "if you are going to be coarse and
flattering, I collapse. If you are going to titillate my vanity, I
succumb."

"It won't be so disagreeable," Gordon observed, with an intention
vaguely humorous.

"Oh no, it won't be disagreeable. I will go to Mrs. Vivian every
morning, hat in hand, for my orders."

Gordon Wright, with his hands in his pockets and a meditative
expression, took several turns about the room.

"It will be a capital chance," he said, at last, stopping in front of
his companion.

"A chance for what?"

"A chance to arrive at a conclusion about my young friend."

Bernard gave a gentle groan.

"Are you coming back to that? Did n't I arrive at a conclusion long ago?
Did n't I tell you she was a delightful girl?"

"Do you call that a con