ng of the same mind."

"It's good to hear you talk like that, Stephen," John said earnestly.
"You're making me homesick, but what's the sense of it? For good or for
evil, I am here to wrestle with things for a bit."

"It's no easy matter for me to open out the things that are in my
heart," Stephen answered. "I am one of the old-fashioned Strangeweys.
What I feel is pretty well locked up inside. The last time you and I met
perhaps I spoke too much; so here I am!"

"It's fine of you," John declared. "I remember nothing of that day. We
will look at things squarely together, even where we differ. I'm--"

He broke off in the middle of his sentence. The door had been suddenly
opened, and Sophy Gerard made a somewhat impetuous entrance.

"I'm absolutely sick of ringing, John," she exclaimed. "Oh, I beg your
pardon! I hadn't the least idea you had any one with you."

She stood still in surprise, a little apologetic smile upon her lips.
John hastened forward and welcomed her.

"It's all right, Sophy," he declared. "Let me introduce my brother, may
I? My brother Stephen--Miss Sophy Gerard."

Stephen rose slowly from his place, laid down his pipe, and bowed
stiffly to Sophy. She held out her hand, however, and smiled up at him
delightfully.

"How nice of you to come and see your poor, lonely brother!" she said.
"We have done our best to spoil him, but I am afraid he is very homesick
sometimes. I hope you've come to stay a long time and to learn all about
London, as John is doing. If you are half as nice as he is, we'll give
you such a good time!"

From his great height, Stephen looked down upon the girl's upturned face
a little austerely. She chattered away, entirely unabashed.

"I do hope you're not shocked at my bursting in upon your brother like
this! We really are great pals, and I live only just across the way. We
are much less formal up here, you know, than you are in the country.
John, I've brought you a message from Louise."

"About to-night?"

She nodded.

"Louise is most frightfully sorry," she explained, "but she has to go
down to Streatham to open a bazaar, and she can't possibly be back in
time to dine before the theater. Can you guess what she dared to
suggest?"

"I think I can," John replied, smiling.

"Say you will, there's a dear," she begged. "I am not playing to-night.
May Enser is going on in my place. We arranged it a week ago. I had two
fines to pay on Saturday, and I haven't had a decent