But then it was not evident that Mrs. Mavering need be in the same case. It would be poor taste to seem to assume it. "In point of fact," she suggested a hoarded wealth, an unknown, mysterious sum in reserve, rather than even poverty in respect to a future. But she might be allowed to express for herself the terms of her profit. "I think I understand now," she said. Her veil had little beads of moisture on it from the damp March wind that blew down Shannon Street in their faces. The gutters were slushy running streams, the elms shook their branches restlessly, as if full of the sweet pains of stirring sap and the coming birth of leaves. "Acting," continued Thaddeus, "in behalf of the Helen estate, which I believe, I trust, will prove large, but is, I think, I fear--" "You think uncertain?" "Doubtless uncertain. There are elements of uncertainty. And in this matter I must confess myself only a man, a sad limitation. Mrs. Mavering; somewhat elderly, too; and so, one who feels he must husband his slender resources. I fear I depend very much on that commission. I fear the bankruptcy of that estate would be disastrous for me." Mrs. Mavering drew her veil closer, and they walked on a few moments in silence. Then she ventured: "Uncertain, of course; but you spoke of elements." "I might mention, in regard to the nature of it at present, a certain impetuosity, a determination, a loyalty perhaps a little too inflexible. Flexibility is, so to speak, to have a good portion of one's capital near by for emergencies. I might mention, to speak technically, as a liability, a certain Morgan Map." "But that," said she, hurriedly--"I mean. I know him only slightly, but Helen said--" "You would wish me to convince you that he is liability rather than an asset." "Why not convince her?" "Ah, but there! Might it not--I have tested, I fear it would, I ask your better intuition--might not the attempt, if made seriously, defeat its end by rousing that loyalty, giving perhaps direction and opportunity to that--that inflexibility?" "It might." Thaddeus lifted a neatly gloved hand, and cane swinging between the fingers. "To be flexible, to adapt oneself. There are so many doors, it is well not to be too absolutely one kind of key. I have heard a phrase, which appears to be a recent discovery--this phrase, 'The survival of the fittest.' It was explained to me, who am not profound, I confess. Dear me, no; nor a reader of new books. But I understood it to mean the survival of that which fits, the introduction of order by the elimination of the disorderly, of the--a--antagonistic, and so the final result of a race and a world to fit each other like hand and glove. A happy consummation." "But Helen--"