"I can't think always and forever of Lord Fillingford," she told him impatiently. "He isn't all the world to me. I am thinking of Leonard--this is all I can do for him now. I'm thinking of the child--and of myself. I can give up for myself, but this is my compensation. What I could have she is to have--because she loves Amyas, and I love her--and because I loved her father. That's what I mean. I daresay you've some very hard names for it. They made me give up Leonard once--at any rate behave as if I was ashamed of him. Very well. They must take Leonard's daughter now--or that worse thing you and I know of." "I'm still on the worldly plane," Alison said, smiling. "You can, of course, if you're so minded, abolish all objections except the sentimental. If it's a hundred thousand for an Institute, what mightn't it be for a whim, Miss Driver?" "And what mightn't it be for my dear man who's dead?" said Jenny, very low. He got up, went to her, and took her hands. She did not repel him. He whispered a word or two to her--of comfort or sympathy, as his manner indicated. Then he looked round at me. "You've had a hand in this mischief, I suppose, Austin?" "Oh, we just take our orders in this house," said I. "Heaven humble your heart!" he said to her, but now the rebuke was kindly, almost playful. "The present question is of humbling Lord Fillingford's," retorted Jenny. Alison walked back to the window. Jenny gave me a quick nod of satisfaction; the fight was going well. "Are they still there?" she asked. "Oh, dear me, yes! He's sat down by her on the ground--looking up, you know!" "Yes, I can imagine, Mr. Alison." "A fine pair!" He turned round with a sigh. "And very fond of one another! And yet you think you could--? Well, perhaps you could--who knows?" He seemed to study her thoughtfully. "I don't want to, you know--unless I'm driven," said Jenny. "You mustn't do it," he told her, with some return of his authority. He softened the next moment; "I don't believe you would." "Run no risks--advise your friends to run none. You've seen enough of me now to know that it's not safe to conclude I shan't do a thing just because I think it's wrong--or even because I don't at this moment mean to do it. I have to reckon with a temper; others had better reckon with it, too." Alison looked at me, pursing up his lips. "I think that she points out a real danger." "I'm sure she does," I rejoined. "And you must reckon with it." "Yes," he murmured, his eyes again searching her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly at him with a defiant smile. "But losing your temper oughtn't to be relied on as a resource. Reckon with it if you like--not on it, Miss Driver." Jenny laughed outright at that. "He hits me hard--but it makes no difference," she said to me. "The plan stands." She turned quickly on him: "In the end, what do you make of it?" She stretched out her right hand. "Are even good things soiled if they are taken from that hand?"