"What do you know about this business between Lavinia and that young Marley?" he asked. "It seems to have developed rapidly during my absence." "Oh, Connie has been talking to you, I suppose!" laughed Mrs. Blair. "You know that Connie is apt to be sensational." Judge Blair eyed his wife narrowly. Connie was his favorite child, though he would not, of course, admit as much, and he was ever ready to spring to her defense. "She has very bright eyes," he said. "Oh, now, dear," said Mrs. Blair, "don't overestimate this thing. Lavinia's nothing but a child." "That's just the point. Has the young man been here much?" "Yes, he was here quite often--several evenings, in fact." "Humph! He seems to have taken advantage of the sunshine of my absence to make his hay." "Don't do him an injustice. He didn't meet Lavinia until just about the time you went away." "Well, we'll see about it," said the judge, darkly. "Now see here, Will, don't make the matter serious by an unnecessary opposition; don't drive the children into a position where they will consider themselves persecuted lovers." Mrs. Blair had not until that instant thought of this argument, and she was so pleased with it, as justifying her own course with the children, as she had artfully called them, that she pressed it. "No, don't do that. Just let them alone. They're as likely as not to outgrow it; that is, if there is anything between them to outgrow. They'll probably imagine themselves in love a dozen times before either of them is married." "Don't talk of marriage!" said the judge, with a little shudder. Mrs. Blair, who had so well dispelled her own fears, could laugh at her husband's. "Just let them alone," she said; "or leave it to me." "Yes," said the judge peevishly, "leave it to you. You'd probably aid and abet them." And then, instantly regretting his ill humor, he added hastily: "You're so kind-hearted." Mrs. Blair kissed his white hair gently and gave his cheek a little pat. "You'd better take a nap," she said. CHAPTER VIII A JUDICIAL DECISION The judge refused to take a nap, though when he sat down on the veranda he did take one, lying back in his chair with one of the many sections of the Sunday paper spread over his face. It was from this somewhat undignified posture that he was aroused by a step; he started up hastily. "I beg your pardon," said the young man, who stood on the steps twirling his straw hat round and round in his hands. The young man went on with an anxious smile: "This is Judge Blair, I presume? My name is Marley--Glenn Marley."