“I did,” said Paul. “I lived with him for six years.” He paused just a moment, then lifting his chin a little and looking Laughton in the eyes he added, “His daughter was my father’s wife.” “What say? Your father’s——Good Lord!——I mean——” The Englishman stopped in confusion. “Yes,” said Fraser, “and a fine, educated, Christian woman she was too.” “Thank you, sir,” said Paul with quiet dignity. “She was that and more than that to me.” There was an awkward silence for some moments. Mrs. Pelham appeared much annoyed. The Colonel fussed about, ordering from the servant things he did not want. Peg, with face crimson, kept her eyes upon her plate. Again the minister stepped into the breach. “The children are well?” he asked Paul. “I go to Fort Reliance to bring them out with me. Peter I am going to place on the ranch where I spent a summer myself. The little girl,” here his voice took on a softer tone, “I shall bring with me to Vancouver. They have both done splendidly at the school, so the missionary says.” “Little Tanna I remember was very beautiful,” said Peg, for the first time joining in the conversation. “She is beautiful, very quick mentally, has a good voice, a bright, cheery little soul,” said Paul. “She is blind,” said Peg softly to Laughton. “Good Lord! I mean—how awful!” said Laughton, in a horrified voice. “She is not unhappy,” said Paul quietly. Again the conversation lagged, though the Colonel endeavoured to lure Laughton into speaking of his plans. Laughton informed him he had no plans, and left the matter there. Paul began to be conscious of an attitude almost of hostility on the part of Mrs. Pelham, and even the Colonel refused to be interested in his affairs. As the ladies rose from the table Peg came to Paul’s side and said hurriedly, “I want to hear about Vancouver. Adelina was very tantalizing, beginning so many interesting things and never finishing anything.” “I must go soon,” said Paul. “You are not to go without seeing me,” she said imperiously, as she passed to her mother, who was waiting impatiently for her. “You are behaving ridiculously, Peggy,” said her mother when they were alone. “The whole dinner was spoiled with—that—that disgusting conversation and—and all.” “Well, Mamma, I had little enough to do with the conversation.” “That’s just it. You can talk well, but you allowed Paul and Mr. Fraser to absorb the attention of the table and bring in objectionable things. I have no patience with you. And Paul—what need was there for dragging in those horrid half-breed children and their mother? Surely the less said about them the better.” “Oh, Mamma, I thought it was just splendid of him to stick up for them as he did.” “What will Guy think of your friends, I wonder?” “I wonder what he thinks of his own friends!” retorted Peg. “What do you mean, child?” “I mean that horrid creature, Lady Alicia, who went everywhere, and—and—you know the kind of person she is.”