; both things render him immune."

Dolph settled back in his chair and crossed his legs.

"Yes, Olive, I intend to outstay you," he said, in answer to her
glance. "You were here first; it's your turn to go now. But about this
latest freak of Mrs. Brenton: where do you suppose she picked it up?"

"Evolved it from within."

"Doubted. I've talked to her, Opdyke; she's not the kind to evolve
anything, certainly not a full-fledged case of--"

Olive interrupted.

"There is some good in it, though," she persisted.

"Where?" Opdyke asked her.

"The complexion; it's better than any amount of massage. One never
wrinkles, when one is convinced that nothing can go wrong."

"What about measles?" Dolph demanded pertly.

But Reed objected to the trivial interlude.

"I wish I knew how Brenton really would be taking it," he said, rather
more insistently than it was his wont to speak. "The poor beggar has
had bad times lately with his Ego; always has had, in fact. He has an
enormous conscience, linked with an insatiate desire to put the whole
universe under a blowpipe, and then weigh up the residue. That's
infernally bad for a preacher, especially when he has a wife who is
strong neither in her cooking nor in her sense of humour. Yes, I know
something about Mrs. Brenton, even if I haven't seen her lately.
Besides, I shall see her, some day. She is still clamouring at my
portal; it's only a matter of time now, before she downs the outer
guards and gets in."

"Reed, you won't allow it!" Olive said quickly, for she thought she was
aware what such a call portended.

Opdyke's smile was grim.

"The inner fortress is invincible, Olive, so don't worry. I sha'n't
encourage the maid to let her in. Still, if she breaks through, at
least it will keep her out of mischief in other quarters, and I am a
long way more invulnerable than Brenton."

"They say," Dolph remarked at the opposite wall; "that it is a
perfectly grand thing for the temper."

Olive answered without a trace of malice, so intent was she upon the
question at issue.

"Really, Dolph, I think she isn't cantankerous. Quite selfish people
never are; they just grab everything in sight, with a total serenity
and regardless of any consequences. That is the reason Mrs. Brenton is
such a good subject for her new religion."

Reed roused himself from a brown study.

"If you meet Brenton anywhere, Olive, don't you want to ask him to come
in to see me soon? I've some things