"You are becoming like me, Cousin Thor. You're a wobbler. You actually can't make up your mind. I never knew you had it in you to hesitate or to change." "Oh, I hesitate about lots of things," Thorold replied promptly; "it's only when we're very young that we're very sure." "Well, that isn't a hit at me, for I'm never sure of anything, except what I want to do at the moment. But I'd like to know what kind of things you wobble about." Thorold looked at her with his whimsical smile. "I have considerable hesitation about you and your welfare very often," he said. Gentian looked dumbfounded. "Do you think about me very much, Cousin Thor?" she asked demurely. "Really, Gentian," expostulated Mrs. Wharnecliffe. "We've wandered away from our subject of the house. Suppose we get back to that. Where do you propose living, Thorold? I hope you won't build." "No, a new house is perfectly hateful," said Gentian; "I told Miss Muir so. I should be sorry to live in a house of her planning. She has no sense of beauty." "She's a very clever girl," said Thorold. "Aren't you judging her rather hastily? About the house: I have the first refusal of it, and I think in two or three months' time, I shall know how the mine is going and be better able to judge what I can afford. I shall take rooms in the village." "Yes," said Gentian quickly; "if you stay on at the Rectory you'll lose all independence. Miss Muir will manage you and all your affairs completely." Thorold shook his head. "A good many people have tried to manage me in my life. We'll except the present company! But it is an experience to which I am well accustomed, and it doesn't trouble me in the least." Mrs. Wharnecliffe laughed. "We need not have an uneasy thought about him, Gentian. As I told you he is well able to look after himself. Now don't you think we could have a walk as it is such a lovely evening? Is the tide in or out? Let us go down to the sea." "It is out, I think," said Thorold. "Run and put a warm wrap on, Gentian," said Mrs. Wharnecliffe. "I have a much thicker gown than you. We will wait for you in the verandah." As the girl disappeared, Mrs. Wharnecliffe took hold of Thorold by the arm. "Now come along, I want to talk to you. I am anxious about this child. Your Rector wants the little Vicarage house for a new-married curate who is going to be in charge of the church. I haven't told Gentian, for I know the outcry she will make. She cannot live there alone, and you must let the Rector have it. It will be a way out of the difficulty. I have some empty attics where she can store her boxes and things. It is very difficult to know what to do with her. I don't believe she'll go on living with the Miss Buchans year in and year out, she'll be too dull there. And she's not the sort of girl to be knocking about the world on her own."