n
Wednesday because his dead wife's sister was staying with him, so we've
taken them in. Did you notice the look on the face of the eldest?"

Stanley nodded. In truth, he had noticed something, though what he could
not have said.

"At nine years old she has to do the housework and be a mother to the
other two, besides going to school. This is all because Lady Malloring
has conscientious scruples about marriage with a deceased wife's
sister."

'Certainly'--thought Stanley--'that does sound a bit thick!' And he
asked:

"Is the woman here, too?"

"No, she's gone home for the present."

He felt relief.

"I suppose Malloring's point is," he said, "whether or not you're to do
what you like with your own property. For instance, if you had let this
cottage to some one you thought was harming the neighborhood, wouldn't
you terminate his tenancy?"

She answered, still in that level voice:

"Her action is cowardly, narrow, and tyrannical, and no amount of
sophistry will make me think differently."

Stanley felt precisely as if one of his feet had gone through the ice
into water so cold that it seemed burning hot! Sophistry! In a plain man
like himself! He had always connected the word with Felix. He looked
at her, realizing suddenly that the association of his brother's family
with the outrage on Malloring's estate was probably even nearer than he
had feared.

"Look here, Kirsteen!" he said, uttering the unlikely name with
resolution, for, after all, she was his sister-in-law: "Did this fellow
set fire to Malloring's ricks?"

He was aware of a queer flash, a quiver, a something all over her face,
which passed at once back to its intent gravity.

"We have no reason to suppose so. But tyranny produces revenge, as you
know."

Stanley shrugged his shoulders. "It's not my business to go into the
rights and wrongs of what's been done. But, as a man of the world and a
relative, I do ask you to look after your youngsters and see they don't
get into a mess. They're an inflammable young couple--young blood, you
know!"

Having made this speech, Stanley looked down, with a feeling that it
would give her more chance.

"You are very kind," he heard her saying in that quiet, faintly lisping
voice; "but there are certain principles involved."

And, suddenly, his curious fear of this woman took shape. Principles! He
had unconsciously been waiting for that word, than which none was more
like a red rag to him.

"What princ