ld is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who
feel.'--HORACE WALPOLE.

It may be doubted if either Audrey or her brother-in-law enjoyed their
walk to Hillside. Mr. Harcourt felt that he had failed signally in his
brotherly mission, and any sort of failure was intolerable to him. To do
him justice, he was thinking only of Audrey's future welfare. As he took
up the wide clerical-looking hat that he affected, and walked with her
down the terrace, he told himself sorrowfully that he might as well have
held his tongue; but, all the same, he could not refrain from speaking
another word or two.

'I do so wish I could make you see this thing as your friends will see
it!' he said, no longer laying down the law, but speaking in a tone of
mild insistence, as became a man who knew himself to be right. 'They may
not be so closely interested in the matter, but perhaps their view may
be less prejudiced. Think, my dear girl, what a serious, what a terrible
thing it would be if you were to discover too late that you had made a
mistake!'

'I should never own it to be one,' she said, trying to smile; but it
could not be denied that she found her brother-in-law a little
depressing; 'and you may be quite sure that I should abide by it. There
is a fund of obstinacy in my nature that no one seems to have discovered
but myself.'

Then Mr. Harcourt gave vent to an impatient sigh. He must leave her to
Geraldine, he thought; but even then he could not forbear from one
Parthian thrust.

'You will live to repent it,' he said very seriously, 'and then you will
remember my warning. You must not look to me to help you out of your
difficulties then, Audrey; I would have done anything for you now.'

'I will promise you that I will not ask for your help,' she returned, so
promptly that he looked quite hurt. And she hastened to soften her
words. 'If one makes a mistake of that kind, one must only look to one's
self.'

'I have always regarded your interests as identical with Edith's,' he
returned a little stiffly. 'I mean, I have always treated you as though
you were my own sister; but, of course, if you cannot rely on me as your
brother----'

But Audrey would not let him finish his sentence.

'Why, Percival,' she said gently, 'I do believe you are quarrelling with
me, just because I am taking you at your word. Are you not just a little
illogical for once? In one breath you tell me not to look to you for
help, and then you re