ce most certainly did not run.
"I think people are very queer," she said to herself, "they seem to
think _ten_ years isn't a bit more grown-up than six or seven."

"Mummy," she asked, when later her mother came to take away her light,
"father and Uncle Paul are brethren, aren't they?"

"My dear! What put that into your head?"

"Aren't they?"

"Certainly, dear."

"Then why don't they 'dwell together in unity'?"

"Patience!" Mrs. Shaw stared down at the sharp inquisitive little face.

"Why don't they?" Patience persisted. If persistency be a virtue,
Patience was to be highly commended.

"My dear, who has said that they do not?"

Patience shrugged; as if things had always to be said. "But, mummy--"

"Go to sleep now, dear." Mrs. Shaw bent to kiss her good-night.

"All the same," Patience confided to the darkness, "I know they don't."
She gave a little shiver of delight--something very mysterious was
afoot evidently.

Out on the landing, Mrs. Shaw found Pauline waiting for her. "Come
into your room, mother, please, I've started up the fire; I want to
tell you something."

"I thought as much," her mother answered. She sat down in the big
armchair and Pauline drew up before the fire. "I've been expecting it
all the evening."

Pauline dropped down on the floor, her head against her mother's knee.
"This family is dreadfully keen-sighted. Mother dear, please don't be
angry--" and Pauline made confession.

When she had finished, Mrs. Shaw sat for some moments, as her husband
had done, her eyes on the fire. "You told him that we could not manage
it, Pauline?" she said at last. "My dear, how could you!"

"But, mother dear, I was--desperate; something has to be done
for--Hilary, and I had to do it!"

"Do you suppose your father and I do not realize that quite as well as
you do, Pauline?"

"You and I have talked it over and over, and father never
says--anything."

"Not to you, perhaps; but he is giving the matter very careful
consideration, and later he hopes--"

"Mother dear, that is so indefinite!" Pauline broke in. "And I can't
see--Father is Uncle Paul's only brother! If I were rich, and Hilary
were not and needed things, I would want her to let me know."

"It is possible, that under certain conditions, Hilary would not wish
you to know." Mrs. Shaw hesitated, then she said slowly, "You know,
Pauline, that your uncle is much older than your father; so much older,
that he seemed to stand--w