Another fad of his was the value of inaction. He deplored waste motion, and held that far more was lost by effort than by restraint. A favorite maxim was: “Do nothing and all things will be done.” This he had picked up in a book somewhere, and frequently quoted it. Though such a code might be dangerous to a less executive brain, to Loft it was wise counsel. And seemingly, his plan worked. He seemed, indeed, to do nothing and yet, in his domain all things were done. His household mechanism was of the most smooth-running variety, and no incoming bride could hope to improve on it,--the most she might hope would be to keep it up to its present standards. With his calm foresight, Loft felt sure that Pauline would do this, or if she didn’t, she could be taught to. And now Pauline was under his roof, spending a blissful fortnight, made possible by the chaperonage of little Anna Knox. Though a few months younger than Pauline, Anna was a matron of three years’ standing, and so, thoroughly equipped for the office of chaperon. To be sure, Mrs. Ned Knox had her own notions of these duties, but her presence gave the conventional sanction to Pauline’s visit. Pauline, tall, dark, beautiful, came out from the house, pausing a moment in the doorway to lift her straight, heavy black eyebrows at Anna’s position. “You!” she exclaimed, “you grasping cormorant! You have all the men in the world, and yet you must needs reach out after my one little ewe lamb! You go and read your prayer-book where it says, ‘Keep my hands from picking and stealing’!” “I wasn’t hurting your lammie,” and Anna rose slowly from Loft’s chair arm, and went over to sit beside her husband. “Was I, Val?” “I didn’t know you were there,” Loft returned, looking surprisedly at her, as he rose to arrange a seat for Pauline, and Anna made a face at him. Tea was brought then, with other cups even more cheering, and as the shadows lengthened across the lawn and dusk began to fall, conversation lagged and there were frequent silences. “I’m asked down to Wyngate for the week-end,” Baldwin said. “You can’t go, Angel,” Loft told him quickly. “I’ve more guests coming, and you must help bore them to death.” “But they asked me, and they said they were going to have a lot of interesting people there.” “Contradiction of terms. Interesting people don’t come in lots. The other sort do.” “Why, Val, how you do make on!” cried Anna. “Haven’t we a group of interesting people right here now?” “No; Pauline is the only interesting one, and I wouldn’t except her only she’s my fiancée, and it seems as if I ought to.”