"I never thought of him in that connection," she answered honestly. "Well, you know, he is not a marrying man at all. Anybody can see that; and yet you would not believe me if I were to tell you the number of women who have set their caps at him. Any other man would have his head turned completely; but he never seems to see it. We get the laugh all to ourselves." "Clever as he is," put in another sister, "he is a regular simpleton where women are concerned. He treats them just as if they were men, and of course they take advantage of it, and get him talked about and laughed at." "We tell him it really is too silly," said the third, "that, after all his experience, he should not know how to take care of himself." Mona turned very pale, but she answered thoughtfully. "When you asked me whether I considered if Mr Brown an attractive man, I was inclined at first to say no; but what you say of him crystallises my ideas somewhat. I think his great attraction lies in the fact that he can meet women on common ground, without regard to sex. He realises, perhaps, that a woman may care for knowledge, and even for friendship, as well as for a husband. I should not try to change him, if I were you. His views may be peculiar here, but they are not altogether uncommon among cultured people." She said the last words gently, with a pleasant smile, and then proceeded to put on her furs with an air of quiet dignity that would not have discredited Lady Munro herself, and that seemed to throw the Browns to an infinite distance. It was some moments before any of them found voice. "Must you go?" said the eldest at last, somewhat feebly. "Won't you take another cup of tea?" "Thank you very much, but I am on my way to drink tea with Mrs Easson." "Queer homely body, isn't she?" said the second sister, recovering herself. "She is your cousin, is she not?" "I am proud to say she is." "Oh, we've never arranged about the walk," said the youngest. "Any day next week that will suit you, will suit me." "Oh, thank you; I am afraid this wonderful bazaar is going to absorb all our energies for some time to come. I fear the walk will have to be postponed indefinitely." She shook hands graciously with her hostesses, and went slowly down by the stair that opened on the street. "If I were five years younger," she said to her herself, "I should be tempted to encourage Mr Brown, just the least little bit in the world, and then----" But not even when Mona was a girl could she have been tempted, for more than a moment, to avenge a petty wrong at the expense of those great, sad eyes. Mr Brown had been looking out, and he came forward to meet her, nervous, eager. "Have you arranged a day?" he asked. "No; I fear I am going to be very busy for the next few weeks. It is very kind of you to suggest another walk. Good-bye."