She got up and prepared to depart, looking so pretty and so helpless that it was really astonishing that the Hermes did not appreciate her. "Good-bye, dear Canon. No, I forbid you to come out. Oh, well, if you will. I hear everywhere of the splendid work you're doing. Don't think it flattery, but I do think we needed you here. What we have wanted is a message--something to lift us all up a little. It's so easy to see nothing but the dreary round, isn't it? And all the time the stars are shining.... At least that's how it seems to me." The door closed; the room was suddenly silent. Miss Ronder sat without moving, her eyes staring in front of her. Soon Ronder returned. Miss Ronder said nothing. She was the one human being who had power to embarrass him. She was embarrassing him now. "Aren't things strange?" he said. "I've seen four different people this afternoon. They have all of their own accord instantly talked about Brandon, and abused him. Brandon is in the air. He's in danger." Miss Ronder looked her nephew straight between the eyes. "Frederick," she said, "how much have you had to do with this?" "To do with this? To do with what?" "All this talk about the Brandons." "I! Nothing at all." "Nonsense. Don't tell me. Ever since you set foot in this town you've been determined that Brandon should go. Are you playing fair?" He got up, stood opposite her, legs apart, his hands crossed behind his broad back. "Fair? Absolutely." Her eyes were full of distress. "Through all these years," she said, "I've never truly known you. All I know is that you've always got what you wanted. You're going to get what you want now. Do it decently." "You needn't be afraid," he said. "I _am_ afraid," she said. "I love you, Fred; I have always loved you. I'd hate to lose that love. It's one of my most precious possessions." He answered her slowly, as though he were thinking things out. "I've always told you the truth," he said; "I'm telling you the truth now. Of course I want Brandon to go, and of course he's going. But I haven't to move a finger in the matter. It's all advancing without my agency. Brandon is ruining himself. Even if he weren't, I'm quite square with him. I fought him openly at the Chapter Meeting the other day. He hates me for it." "And you hate _him_." "_Hate_ him? Not the least in the world. I admire and like him. If only he were in a less powerful position and were not in my way, I'd be his best friend. He's a fine fellow--stupid, blind, conceited, but finer made than I am. I like him better than any man in the town." "I don't understand you"; she dropped her eyes from his face. "You're extraordinary." He sat down again as though he recognised that the little contest was closed. "Is there anything in this, do you think? This chatter about Mrs. Brandon and Morris." "I don't know. There's a lot of talk beginning. Ellen Stiles is largely responsible, I fancy."