'They regard you quite as a magistrate,' said Edith. 'But it was too bad of them to come and bother you so early.' 'Oh no. Not at all. I assure you I enjoy it. And, besides, a boy with Archie's musical talents is bound to have the artistic temperament, you know, and--well--of course, we all know what that leads to--excitement; and finally a quarrel sometimes.' 'If he were really musical I should have thought he ought to be more harmonious,' Edith said. 'Oh, by the way, Edith, did you consult Landi about him?' Bruce inquired. 'You said you intended to.' 'Oh yes, I did. Landi can see no sign of musical genius yet.' 'Dear, dear!' said Bruce. 'Ah, but I am convinced he's wrong. Wait a few years and you'll find he'll agree with me yet,' said Madame Frabelle. 'I'm not at all sure, either, that a composer like Landi is necessarily the right person to judge of youthful genius.' 'Perhaps not. And yet you'd think he'd know a bit about it, too! I mean to say, they wouldn't have made him a baronet if he didn't understand his profession. Excuse my saying so, won't you?' 'Not at all,' she answered. 'It doesn't follow. I mean it doesn't follow that he's right about Archie. Did he try the boy's voice?' she asked Edith. 'Very much.' 'How?' 'Well, he asked Archie to sing a few notes.' 'And did he?' 'Yes, he did. But they weren't the notes Landi asked him to sing.' 'Oh!' 'Then Landi played him two tunes, and found he didn't know one from the other.' 'Well, what of that?' 'Nothing at all. Except that it showed he had no ear, as well as no voice. That is all.' Madame Frabelle would never own she was beaten. 'Ah, well, well,' she said, shaking her head in an oracular way. 'You wait!' 'Certainly. I shall.' 'By the way, I may be a little late for dinner tonight. I'm going to see an old friend who's been wounded in the war,' Bruce told Madame Frabelle proudly. It had always been something of an ordeal to Edith when she knew that Aylmer and Bruce were alone together. It was a curious feeling, combined of loyalty to Bruce (she hated him to make himself ridiculous), loyalty to Aylmer, and an indescribable sense of being lowered in her own eyes. When they seemed friendly together it pained her self-respect. Most women will understand the sensation. However, she knew it had to be, and would be glad when it was over. CHAPTER XIII The next evening Bruce came in, holding himself very straight, with a slightly military manner. When he saw his wife he just stopped himself from saluting. 'That's a man!' he exclaimed. 'That's a splendid fellow.' Edith didn't answer. 'You don't appreciate him. In my opinion Aylmer Ross is a hero.' 'I hope he's better?' 'Better! He would say so, anyhow. Ah, he's a wonderful chap!' Bruce hummed Tipperary below his breath.