hole society of Gracias. Do you think we ought to
corrupt them with our worldly cautions?"

"We're not corrupting, it's Spenser who's corrupting; we should never
corrupt them though we should stay here forever. They're idyllic, of
course, it's an idyllic society; but we can be idyllic too."

Margaret shook her head. "I'm afraid we can only be appreciative."

"It's the same thing. If we can appreciate little Gracias, with its
remoteness and simplicity and stateliness, its pine barrens and beaches
and roses, I maintain that we're very idyllic; what can be more so?"

Margaret did not reply. After a while she said, "If you will take Aunt
Katrina to drive to-morrow afternoon, I will have Telano row me down to
East Angels."

"You think you will speak in any case? I suppose you know with what
enthusiastic approval Mrs. Thorne honors all you say and do?"

"Yes, something of it."

"But you don't care for her approvals," he said, half interrogatively.

"Yes, I care," Margaret answered. "In this case I care a great deal, as
it may give me some influence over her."

"What shall you say to her?--not that I have any right to ask."

"I am very willing to tell. I had thought of asking whether she would
let Garda go back with me when we go home--back to New York; I had
thought of having her go to school there for six months."

"I can't imagine her in a school! But it's very kind in you to think of
it, all the same."

"She could stay with Madame Martel, and take lessons; it wouldn't be
quite like a school."

"That might do. Still--I can hardly imagine her away from Gracias, when
it comes to the point."

"Neither can I. But, as you say, irresponsible people have made their
way in here, they will do so again; we shall not be able to keep the
place, and Garda, idyllic simply to please ourselves."

"Well, then, I wish we could!" responded Winthrop. "But I don't believe
the little mother could stand the separation," he went on.

"I shouldn't ask her to, at least not for long; I should ask her to come
herself, later. New York might amuse her."

"Never in the world, she wouldn't in the least approve of it," said
Winthrop, laughing. "It wouldn't be Thorne and Duero; it wouldn't even
be New Bristol, where she spent her youth. She would feel that she ought
to reform it, yet she wouldn't know how; she would be dreadfully
perplexed. She has a genius for perplexity, poor little soul. But I
can't express how good I think it is of y