n the sunlight,
would lay a fine, transparent, work-worn hand on Mrs. Phelps and ask
her to come again. It was an "impossible" life, of course, and yet, at
the moment, absorbing enough to the new-comer. And it was at least
surprising to find the best of magazines and books everywhere,--"the
advertisements alone seem to keep them in touch with everything new,"
wrote Mrs. Phelps.

Her whole attitude toward Manzanita might have softened sometimes, if
long years of custom had not made the little things of life vitally
important to her. A misused or mispronounced word was like a blow to
her; inner forces over which she had no control forced her to discuss
it and correct it. She had a quick, horrified pity for Manzanita's
ignorance on matters which should be part of a lady's instinctive
knowledge. She winced at the girl's cheerful acknowledgement of that
ignorance. No woman in Mrs. Phelps's own circle at home ever for one
instant admitted ignorance of any important point of any sort; what she
did not know she could superbly imply was not worth knowing. Even
though she might be secretly enjoying the universal, warm hospitality
of the rancho, Mrs. Phelps never lost sight of the fact that Manzanita
was not the wife for Austin, and that the marriage would be the ruin of
his life. She told herself that her opposition was for Manzanita's
happiness as well as for his, and plotted without ceasing against their
plans.

"I've had a really remarkable letter from Uncle William, dear!" she
said, one afternoon, when by some rare chance she was alone with her
son.

"Good for you!" said Austin, absently, clicking the cock of the gun he
was cleaning. "Give the old boy my love when you write."

"He sends you a message, dear. He wants to know--but you're not
listening," Mrs. Phelps paused. Austin looked up.

"Oh, I'm listening. I hear every word."

"You seem so far from me these days, Austin," said his mother,
plaintively. "But--" she brightened, "I hope dear Uncle William's plan
will change all that. He wants you to come home, dear. He offers you
the junior partnership, Austin." She brought it out very quietly.

"Offers me the--WHAT?"

"The junior partnership,--yes, dear. Think of it, at your age, Austin!
What would your dear father have said! How proud he would have been!
Yes. Stafford has gone into law, you know, and Keith Curtis will live
abroad when Isabel inherits. So you see!"

"Mighty kind of Uncle William," mused Austin, "b