"The ring wasn't a surprise, but you have one for me, Katherine." Katherine laughed out at his acuteness. "The ring is lovely; clever, sensitive Peter!" "You have quite convinced me of your pleasure and my own good taste. What is the news?" "Well, Peter, a delightful thing has happened, or is _going_ to happen, rather. Allan Hope is coming to Paris next week! Peter, we may have a double wedding!" "Hilda has accepted him?" "Oh, we have not openly discussed it, you know. Mamma got his letter this morning; very short. He hoped to see us all by Wednesday. Of course, mamma is charmed. Hilda said nothing, and went off to the studio as usual; but Hilda never _does_ say anything if she is really feeling." "Doesn't she?" There was a musing quality in Odd's voice. "_I_ think the child is in love with him; I thought so from the first. Wednesday! A week from to-morrow! Oh, of course she will have him!" Katherine said jubilantly. "Allan isn't the man to fail in anything. He has a great deal of determination." "Yes, he seems the very embodiment of success, doesn't he? That is because he doesn't try to see everything at once, like some people I know." And Katherine nodded her head laughingly at her _fiancé_. "Intellectual epicureanism is fatal. Allan Hope has no unmanageable opinions. His party can always count on him. He is always there, unchanged--unless they change! He pins his faith to his party, and verily he shall have his reward! By mere force of honest mediocrity he will mount to the highest places!" "Venomous little Katherine! What are you trying to insinuate?" "Why, that Lord Allan isn't particularly clever, nor particularly anything, except particularly useful to men who can be clever for him. He is the bricks they build with." "Allan is as honest as the day," said Peter, a little shortly. "Honest? Who's a denygin' of it, pray? His honesty is part of his supreme utility. My simile holds good; he is a brick; a dishonest man is a mere tool, fit only to be cast away, once used." "How rhetorical we are!" said Odd, smiling at her with a touch of friendly mockery. "Lord Allan most devoutly believes that in his party lies the salvation of his country," Katherine pursued. "Oh, I have talked to him!" "You have, have you? Poor chap!" ejaculated Peter. "Will you ever serve me up in this neatly dissected way, as a result of our confidential conversations?" "Willingly! but only to yourself. Don't be afraid, Peter. I could dissect myself far more neatly, far more unpleasantly. I have a genius for the scalpel! And I have said nothing in the least derogatory to Allan Hope. He couldn't disagree with his party, any more than a pious Catholic could disagree with his church. It is a matter of faith, and of shutting the eyes."