Judge Elkhorn looked at him with startled attention, and Mrs. Mancredo shuddered, half whispering: “We used to read ‘Comte d’Andersen’ in the French, with his mother. He was such a pretty little fellow, and took up French so easily. I learned it, too, though Italian was my baby tongue. My father was French. O dear, my life has amounted to nothing after all my efforts!” “How would it do, then, to cease efforts, and in a home be easily useful?” “It would make a scandal.” Ethelbert unconsciously drew herself up, till it seemed as if the universe did not contain air enough to fill her expanding lungs as she said: “‘Don’t talk of scandal. Needs break through stone walls. Take counsel of your own soul, though all the world should be scandalized thereby.’” And then, turning at the repeated call for “mother,” she went to Reginald, who could not be satisfied without a caressing touch of her health-giving hand. But then, contented, he went on with his reading, caring for the attention only as a petted child cares for an accustomed endearment which is hourly, perhaps, received. Yet Judge Elkhorn looked not incapable of striking the paralyzed creature. But the Italian, with an instant’s sharp scrutiny, saw only in the act that Diana-like integrity of purpose, which like a light reflected, beautified her own face, too, with the mother-tenderness that filled Ethelbert’s being, as she said: “Will you go to Alitza’s house, or stay with mother?” “Of course I shall stay with my mother. Alitza may come when she chooses,” said the invalid again in English. And Elkhorn, with arms high folded, looked on, forgetful of all else but the simple intelligent purpose which made radiant these workers. Was it that passion by them had been triturated into the high potency of a god-like vigor, which was sent now through the earth to bring redemption to universal man, and (at their hands) to this individual, by the way? “Yes, yes, take him, keep him here,” said Mrs. Mancredo. “Do as he says, Miss Daksha. He is coming to seem such a dreadful responsibility—guarded by angels, that—” “Oh, if this is the style of doing things which women are going to put on the world!” the judge exclaimed, “asylums and criminal courts will get to seem more devoted to miracle-working than the churches now are; and every idiot will become a center for spiritually scientific endeavor.”