"If there's anything said against me, pray let me know." "Oh, it's nothing very definite," said the Colonel uneasily. He did not find what he had to say so simple as it had seemed. "Indefinite things are most hopeless." "Yes, yes, quite so. Well, if you really wish it--if you won't be offended. No doubt it's all a mistake." "What do they say?" "Well, we're men of the world, Bannister. The fact is, people don't quite understand your--your household." "My household It consists of myself alone and the servants." "Of course, my dear fellow, of course! I knew it was so, but I am glad to be able to say so on your own authority." The aim of speech is, after all, only to convey ideas; the Colonel had managed, however clumsily, to convey his idea. Dale frowned, and pretended to laugh. "How absurd!" he said. "I should resent it if it were not too absurd." "I'm sure, Bannister, you'll acquit me of any meddling." "Oh, yes. I'm sorry my guests have given rise, however innocently, to such talk." "It's most unfortunate. I'm sure nothing more is needed. I hope the ladies are well?" "Yes, thanks." "I don't see them here." "No, they're not here," answered Dale, frowning again. "I hope we shall see some more of them?" "You're very kind. I--I don't suppose they--will be staying much longer." As Dale made his way to the bank to take off his skates, Janet and Tora passed him together. Tora kept her eyes rigidly fixed on the chimneys of the Grange. He made no sign of expecting recognition, but Janet, as she drew near, looked at him, blushing red, and bowed and smiled. "That girl's a trump," said Dale Bannister. "She sticks to her friends." CHAPTER XI. =A Fable about Birds.= Mrs. Hodge and Nellie, being left to their own resources, had employed the afternoon in paying a visit to Ethel Roberts, and nothing was wanting to fill Dale's cup of vexation to overflowing, unless it were to have Nellie flying open-mouthed at him, as he grumblingly expressed it, with a tale of the distress in the Doctor's household. Ethel Roberts had the fortitude to bear her troubles, the added fortitude to bear them cheerfully, but not the supreme fortitude which refuses to tell a tale of woe to any ear, however sympathetic. She did not volunteer information, but she did allow it to be dragged out of her, and the barriers of her reserve broke down before Mrs. Hodge's homely consolations and Nellie's sorrowful horror. They were reduced, she admitted, in effect to living on little else than her own wretched income; the practice brought in hardly more than it took out, for, while the rich patients failed, the poor remained; the rent was overdue, bills were unpaid, and the butcher, the milkman, and the coal merchant were growing sulky. "And while," said Mrs. Hodge, "that poor young creature is pinching, and starving, and crying, the man's thinking of nothing but Nihilists and what not. I'd Nihilist him!" Dinner was served to Dale with sauce of this sort.