"But half-an-hour will not transact mine with you. Remain the day with me," he pleaded, "and enliven a poor invalid for a short time." And Edina made no further objection. When she returned to the room, looking cool and fresh in her summer muslin, old though it might be, with her brown hair braided from her pleasant face, and the brown eyes sweet and earnest as of yore, George Atkinson thought how little, how very little she was altered. It is these placid faces that do not change. Neither had he changed very much. He looked ill, and wore a beard now; a silky brown beard; but his face and eyes and voice were the same. And somehow, now that she was in his presence, heard that musical voice, and met the steadfast, kindly look in the grey eyes, she almost forgot her resentment against him for his conduct to the Raynors. "You are a governor of Christ's Hospital, I believe," she began, entering upon her business at once as she resumed her seat. "I am." "I came here to ask for your next presentation to it. Is it promised?" "Not yet. It falls due next year." "Then will you promise it to me?" continued Edina. "It is for the youngest child of Mrs. Raynor. Will you give it to him?" "No." "No!" she repeated, tone and spirit falling with the disappointment. "But why not?" "I have a boy in my eye who is badly in want of it: more than Mrs. Raynor's son will be." "It is almost impossible that any boy can want it more than poor Robert does." "In that matter our opinions differ, Miss Raynor." "And it would be making some trifling reparation to the family." "Reparation for what?" "For--what you did," answered Edina, hesitating for a moment and then speaking up bravely. "For turning them out of Eagles' Nest." "What would you have done in my place?" questioned Mr. Atkinson good-humouredly. "Have left them in quiet possession of Eagles' Nest?" "I--don't--know--whether I should, or not," hesitated Edina, for the question puzzled her. "Of course Eagles' Nest was legally yours, and I cannot say you were wrong to take it. But I think you might in some way have softened the blow. _I_ could not have turned a family from their home and not inquired how they were to live in the future."