men and handsome boys like Liana, and not seriously troubling her head about him, he could still keep his grasp upon the resignation he feels slipping from him. It's she who's getting it away from him. I've done all I could to help him, to give her no opportunities to make him see what he tries so hard not to see. But she makes it more and more clear in spite of me, and in spite of Charles, Mr. Rennie."
"You depict her as pretty brazenly forward, Miss Orbison."
But the sturdy Englishwoman was just. "No," she said. "Those things are different nowadays—customs have changed and anyhow, you see, it's rather chivalrous of her. I don't think she understands much about Charles; she doesn't know his time is so short; but she sees that he's a cripple and wouldn't ask anybody to marry him. She does the courting because of that and because she wants to make the sacrifice. I haven't a doubt she'd eagerly and happily devote her life to nursing him,—indeed I think she'd do anything for him. And she must do something for him, Mr. Rennie. She must!"
"What do you want her to do?" he asked.
Miss Orbison rose. "I want her to let my brother die in peace, Mr. Rennie. Will you ask her? Will you
