_General Wyatt._--"That was before I saw _him_. I was going to strike the other one. But that's neither here nor there. We must be careful not to hurt his feelings; that's all. We've got our Constance back again, Margaret. Impossible as it seems, we have got her back by his help. Isn't it wonderful to see that killing weight lifted from her young life? It's like a miracle." _Mrs. Wyatt._--"It isn't lifted _all_ the time, James." _General Wyatt._--"No matter--no matter. It isn't crushing her all the time either. I'm glad for what relief there is, and I feel that all is going well. Do you hear that step, Margaret? Listen! That's _like_ the old bounding tread of our little girl. Where is the leaden-footed phantom that used to drag along that hall? Is she coming this way?" _Mrs. Wyatt_, listening.--"No, she is going to our rooms. Has Mr. Bartlett been here yet?" _General Wyatt._--"Not yet. He was to come when he got back from his sketching. _What_ a good fellow, to take so much trouble for Constance's amusement! It was uncommonly kind of Mr. Bartlett, Margaret, offering to give her these lessons." _Mrs. Wyatt._--"Yes, it worries me." _General Wyatt._--"Why in the world should it worry you, Margaret?" _Mrs. Wyatt._--"You can't offer him any compensation for his instructions." _General Wyatt._--"Of course not. That would be offensive. Well?" _Mrs. Wyatt._--"Well, James, can't you see how it complicates everything? He is conferring another obligation. He might almost think we tried to throw them together." _General Wyatt_, fiercely.--"He had better not! Why, Margaret, he's a gentleman! He can't think that." _Mrs. Wyatt._--"No, I suppose not. I suppose it's our trouble that has made me suspicious of every one." She goes sadly about the room, rearranging, with a house-keeper's instinct, everything in it. _General Wyatt._--"You needn't trouble yourself with the room, Margaret; Mary told me that she and the landlady had put it in order." _Mrs. Wyatt._--"That's just why I need." After a moment: "Are you going to be here, James?" _General Wyatt._--"Yes, I thought I should stay. It's a cheerful place to read and smoke. It won't disturb them, will it?" _Mrs. Wyatt._--"Oh, no! It's quite necessary some one should stay. I'm very glad you can, for I've got a few little things to do." _General Wyatt._--"All right. I'll stay and do the dragon, or whatever it is. But I wish you hadn't put it in that light, Margaret. I was proposing to enjoy myself." _Mrs. Wyatt._--"Enjoy yourself, James? With such a terribly perplexing affair before you!" _General Wyatt._--"I don't see anything perplexing about it. It's perfectly simple, to my mind. Mr. Bartlett kindly proposes to give Constance a few lessons in drawing,--or painting; I don't know which it is. That's the beginning and the end of it." _Mrs. Wyatt_, with a heavy sigh.--"Yes, that's the _beginning_." _General Wyatt_, impatiently.--"Well?"