He threw a glance at her sitting there self-possessed and at ease, and a wry smile came to his lips. "Why can’t you always behave like that?" he asked. "I suppose the fact is you’ve worked off all your temper on that poor little creature who’s been telling you just the same as I have. I met her crying on the stairs just now, and she wouldn’t tell me what it was about. But I could guess." She showed some surprise, but no resentment. "My temper!" she exclaimed. "Well, I suppose I must pass that over in the state to which you’ve reduced yourself." His face became moody again. "I won’t ask you what you mean by that," he said. "But you’re quite wrong in what you said just now. Would you consent to my going away with Grant, if I could get him to come with me? He’s rather a fool, but I’d rather have his company than—than——" "Than mine, I suppose. No, I wouldn’t consent to that. You came here on certain conditions, and you must keep to them. It won’t be for very much longer now. I’m not altogether without sympathy with you. I’ve felt the strain myself." He broke into a loud laugh, and went on laughing, while she waited patiently for him to finish, as if no vagary on his part could surprise or upset her. "Oh, that’s too rich," he said, "in that tone! Yes, you’ve been feeling the strain, and you’ve made us feel it. That’s all the trouble. Well now, look here, Lady Brent, I accept what you say about its being too late to alter things now—or too early—whichever you please. We’re all three of us in the bargain, I take it. It was your idea to keep the boy shut up here, and it has paid. I don’t believe it would have paid nine times out of ten, and we’ve yet to see how it will turn out when the test comes. But Harry being what he is, it has been a brilliant success—so far. You’ve been justified in keeping me and his mother shut up here too." "And myself, you must remember. I’ve shut myself up too, so as to make it seem all the most natural thing in the world to him." "Quite so. And you’ve suffered for it, just as we have. Suffered in your temper. If we stick to it, as we must, you ought to make it as easy for us as possible. You haven’t lately." "So Charlotte seemed to imply. But I should like to know how." "Oh, you know how, well enough. You said I was a man of intelligence just now. Well, you’re a woman of intelligence. Just think it over." He nodded his head, knowingly. He looked rather ridiculous, and Lady Brent laughed. "I wish you’d go away," she said. "I want to finish what I’m doing before luncheon. You may tell Charlotte, if you like, that I’m sorry if I spoke harshly to her just now. She annoyed me and I did not pick my words. When three people live together year in and year out they are apt to get annoyed with one another occasionally, for no particular reason." *CHAPTER VII* *THE LOG CABIN*