Mrs. Lowell went on to tell of Cora and the drudgery of the boy's dull and dulling existence, and her listener's eyes lost their customary serenity. "It must not be," said the girl at last, as her companion ceased. "Have you made a diagnosis?" "I only feel that the 'root of all evil' must be at the bottom of it," replied Mrs. Lowell. "The Old Nick, as Veronica calls him, must believe there is money to be secured, and that if he can only prove that his nephew is incompetent, he can gain charge of it. Bertie told me that his mother's people were rich." "Of course, then, that is the key; but it does not explain what the man is doing with pickaxe and shovel up at my farm." "Your farm, my dear?" "Perhaps," said Diana carelessly. "But that is not interesting us now. Mrs. Lowell, I adore the unselfishness which has caused you to give your time to this boy. I have tried to converse with him, but his lack of responsiveness seems to obscure the clarity of my mental processes. I wish, however, to have a hand in his salvation. The thing to do now, it appears to me, is to discover this Loring family. That will take money and I will supply it." "My dear Miss Diana!" "Drop the Miss, please. I feel honored by your friendship. Do you know of a good lawyer?" "My husband is a lawyer." "Then, please, ask him to proceed at once." The girl's dignity and beauty added charm to the sense of power in an emergency which money sometimes gives. "It is galling that we cannot take the boy away from that brute immediately," she added. "Oh, we must be so careful," exclaimed Mrs. Lowell. "Rather than let us do one thing to clear and brighten Bertie's mind his uncle would send him off the island. We must not show dislike or suspicion; and God will guide us in the footsteps we must take. He is taking care of the child now, through us." "Really, Mrs. Lowell, your faith is very beautiful," said Diana. "Everybody should have it. Why go alone while the Bible is right there with its marvelous promises? God's children are not puppets pulled by wires, and so people complain that the promises are not kept. We are made in His image and likeness, tributary only to Him--every good thing is possible to us if we turn toward Him instead of away from Him." "Mr. Gayne appears to have turned away," said Diana dryly. "Yes, he made me shudder this afternoon when he talked of Bertie's learning to swim. It was as if he hoped it might be the child's end." Diana shook her head. "He doesn't want that." "No, so I consoled myself afterward, but his malignant spirit bursts forth in spite of him occasionally." Mrs. Lowell rose and the girl followed her example. The older woman approached and placed her hands on Diana's shoulders. "I thank God," she said, "for your cooperation. I will write to my husband to-night." "Is he as--as religious as you are?"