ld not be as well balanced as herself.

"I think he had better not come to the public _seances_ at present,"
went on the medium. "That, no doubt, will come later; but I was going
to ask a great favor from you, Lady Laura."

She looked up.

"That bother about the rooms is not yet settled, and the Sunday
_seances_ will have to cease for the present. I wonder if you would
let us come here, just a few of us only, for three or four Sundays, at
any rate."

She brightened up.

"Why, it would be the greatest pleasure," she said. "But what about
the cabinet?"

"If necessary, I would send one across. Will you allow me to make
arrangements?"

Mrs. Stapleton beamed.

"What a privilege!" she said. "Dearest, I quite envy you. I am afraid
dear Tom would never consent--"

"There are just one or two things on my mind," went on Mr. Vincent so
pleasantly that the interruption seemed almost a compliment, "and the
first is this. I want him to see for himself. Of course, for
ourselves, his trance is the point; but hardly for him. He is
tremendously impressed; I can see that; though he pretends not to
be. But I should like him to see something unmistakable as soon as
possible. We must prevent his going into trance, if possible.... And
the next thing is his religion."

"Catholics are supposed not to come," observed Mrs. Stapleton.

"Just so.... Mr. Baxter is a convert, isn't he...? I thought so."

He mused for a moment or two.

The ladies had never seen him so interested in an amateur. Usually his
manner was remarkable for its detachment and severe assurance; but it
seemed that this case excited even him. Lady Laura was filled again
with sudden compunction.

"Mr. Vincent," she said, "do you really think there is no danger for
this boy?"

He glanced up at her.

"There is always danger," he said. "We know that well enough. We can
but take precautions. But pioneers always have to risk something."

She was not reassured.

"But I mean special danger. He is extraordinarily sensitive, you know.
There was that girl from Surbiton...."

"Oh! she was exceptionally hysterical. Mr. Baxter's not like that. I
do not see that he runs any greater risk than we run ourselves."

"You are sure of that?"

He smiled deprecatingly.

"I am sure of nothing," he said. "But if you feel you would sooner
not--"

Mrs. Stapleton rustled excitedly, and Lady Laura grabbed at her
retreating opportunity.

"No, no," she cried. "I didn't mean tha