after to-morrow."

"Yes," she said with unusual seriousness. "More than once during the last
two years I felt that it would be a relief to let somebody else have the
responsibility of looking after him, but now that the time has come I'm
sorry he's going. I can't help remembering how often I lost my temper,
and the mistakes I made."

"You stuck to your task," commended Lisle. "I dare say it was a hard one,
almost beyond you now and then."

He knew that he was not exaggerating. She was only a year older than the
wilful lad, who must at times have driven her to despair. Yet she had
never faltered in her efforts to restrain and control him; and had made a
greater sacrifice for his sake than Lisle suspected, though in the light
of a subsequent revelation of Gladwyne's character she was thankful for
this.

"Well," she replied, "I suppose that one misses a load one has grown used
to, and I feel very downcast. It's hardly fair to pass Jim on to you--but
I can trust you to take care of him."

"You can trust the work and the country," Lisle corrected her with a
trace of grimness. "He's not going out to be idle, as he'll discover.
There's nothing like short commons and steady toil for taming any one.
You'll see the effect of my prescription when I send him back again."

"He has physical pluck. I'm glad to remember it; and he has shown signs
of steadying since he found Gladwyne out."

Lisle looked at her searchingly.

"Since he found Gladwyne out?"

"Oh," she answered, seeing that she had been incautious, "he rather
idolized the man, and I suppose it was painful to discover by accident
that he wasn't quite all he thought him. Now, however, he has transferred
his homage to you--I'm afraid Jim must always have somebody to prop
him--but I've no misgivings."

Lisle laughed.

"I've seldom had the time to get into mischief; I suppose that accounts
for a good deal."

They were nearing the lodge and she stopped and held out her hand.

"It's hard to say good-by; you have helped me more than you'll ever
guess, and you won't be forgotten." Then as he held her hand with signs
of embarrassment she laughed with something of her usual mocking manner
and suddenly drew away. "Good-by," she added. "I was rather daring once
and I suppose you were shocked. I can't repeat the rashness--it would
mean more now."

She walked back toward the house, and he went on. Half an hour later he
met Millicent, who stopped to greet him.

"I was