The little sisters gathered up books and slates with some show of resentment; it was their room too. Emily shut the door behind them. The breadths of a light-hued silk dress were lying about the room. Emily was ripping on the waist. "It's a dress Miss Harriet gave mother for a quilt while you were away, but I told her it would be no such thing if I could devise it otherwise." She frowned, then threw the waist down. "Not that I don't hate it--the devising, the scheming." "I wouldn't do it," said Alexina bluntly. "Which is easy for you to say," retorted Emily, her eyes sweeping Alexina from top to toe. Harriet Blair knew how to dress the girl. "Yes," said Alexina; "I suppose that's true." It was part of her hold on Emily, her fairness. "But you're welcome to anything of mine; I've reason somehow to hate 'em all." The colour heightened on Emily's face and she looked eager. Passion expresses itself variously. The stern old grandfather abased and denied the physical and material needs. Emily exulted in the very sheen of rich fabric, in the feel of satin laid to cheek. Was the grandchild but fulfilling the law of reaction? The soul of Emily and the soul of the old preacher saw each other across a vast abyss. "It's for the Orbisons' I need a dress," said Emily. "Of course, I know it's because I have a voice I'm asked." Yet, knowing that for herself she never would have been asked, there was exultation in Emily's tone. Alexina got up suddenly. Somehow she didn't want to discuss the Leroys with Emily after all. Down-stairs she stopped again in the spotless, shining kitchen, the clean odour where soft-soap is used always lingering. Alexina liked it; all her knowledge of the dear homely details of life she was familiar with, she had gotten here. "You remember the Leroys?" she asked Mrs. Carringford. "Why, yes; I sent them milk twice a day." "Did you know why they went away?" "Wasn't it because they had put everything into that--er--" She stopped. "Boat?" suggested the girl. "Boat"--Mrs. Carringford accepted the word--"and so had to, after it was--er--" "Sold," supplied Alexina. "Did you--did people know who it was held the mortgage?" The plain-spoken Mrs. Carringford looked embarrassed. "Well, Alexina, you know how it is in a neighbourhood." "Then you knew the boat was bought in for me?" "Why, yes; I did." "Did the Leroys know it?" "Why, naturally, I should suppose so." That was all that Alexina wanted to know, yet not all, either. Her colour rose a little. It made her pretty. "Do you know anything of the Leroys since?" "Not a word," said Mrs. Carringford. "What do you hear from Miss Harriet and Major Rathbone?" "They are still East. Dr. Ransome came back yesterday."