o take his
part in the defense, especially when there are us women here. Why, it
would pain me less to see Jim brought in dead, than for him to show the
white feather. What can we do for the poor fellow?"

"Treat him just as usual. There is nothing else you can do, Mrs. Doolan.
Any tone of sympathy, still less of pity, would be the worst thing
possible. He is in the lowest depths at present; but if he finds by your
tone and manner that you regard him on the same footing as before, he
will gradually come round, and I hope that before the end of the siege
he will have opportunities of retrieving himself. Not under fire--that
is hopeless; but in other ways."

"You may be sure we will do all we can, Doctor," Mrs. Doolan said
warmly; "and there are plenty of ways he will be able to make himself
most useful. There is somebody wanted to look after all those syces and
servants, and it would be a comfort to us to have someone to talk to
occasionally; besides, all the children are fond of him."

This sentiment was warmly echoed; and thus, when the determination
at which the men had arrived to cut Bathurst became known, there was
something like a feminine revolution.

"You may do as you like," Mrs. Doolan said indignantly; "but if you
think that we are going to do anything so cruel and unjust, you are
entirely mistaken, I can tell you."

Mrs. Rintoul was equally emphatic, and Mrs. Hunter quietly, but with
as much decision, protested. "I have always regarded Mr. Bathurst as a
friend," she said, "and I shall continue to do so. It is very sad for
him that he cannot take part in the defense, but it is no more fair
to blame him than it would be to blame us, because we, too, are
noncombatants."

Isobel Hannay had taken no part in the first discussion among the
ladies, nor did she say anything now.

"It is cruel and unjust," she said to herself, "but they only think as
I did. I was more cruel and unjust than they, for there was no talk
of danger then. I expressed my contempt of him because there was a
suspicion that he had showed cowardice ten years ago, while they have
seen it shown now when there is fearful peril. If they are cruel and
unjust, what was I?"

Later on the men gathered together at one end of the room, and talked
over the situation.

"Dr. Wade," the Major said quietly, "I shall be obliged if you will go
and ask Mr. Bathurst to join us. He knows the people round here better
than any of us, and his opinion will b