Carroll came up just then. "What are you two talking about?" he asked. "You look animated." "Wallace has just promised me ten guineas to assist the movement for the emancipation of women," Lucy answered pointedly. "I may mention that our society's efforts are sadly restricted by the lack of funds." "He's now and then a little inconsequential in his generosity," Carroll rejoined. "I didn't know he was interested in that kind of thing, but as I don't like to be outdone by my partner, I'll subscribe the same." "Thanks," said Lucy, who made an entry in a pocket-book in a businesslike manner. They strolled along the terrace together, and as they went down the steps to the lawn, Carroll inquired with a smile, "Have you tackled Chisholm yet?" "I would have done so had it appeared likely to have been of any use, but I never waste powder and shot," Lucy replied. "A man of his restricted views would sooner subscribe handsomely to put us down." Carroll turned to his comrade. "Are you regretting the ten guineas? You don't look pleased." "No," said Vane; "the fact is, I wanted to do something which wasn't allowed. I've met with the same disillusionment here as I did in British Columbia." Lucy looked up at her brother. "Did you attempt to give somebody money there?" "I did," said Vane shortly. "It's not worth discussing, and anyway she wouldn't listen to me." They strolled on, Vane frowning, while Carroll, who had seen signs of suppressed interest in Lucy's face, smiled unobserved. Neither he nor the others had noticed Mabel, who was following them. They joined the rest, and some time afterwards, Mrs. Chisholm addressed Carroll, who was lying back in a deep chair with his eyes, which were half closed, turned in Lucy's direction. "Are you asleep, or thinking hard?" she asked. "Not more than half asleep," Carroll protested. "I was trying to remember 'A Dream of Fair Women.' It struck me as a suitable occupation for a drowsy summer afternoon in a place like this, but I must confess that it was Miss Vane who put it into my head. She reminded me of one or two of the heroines not long ago, when she was championing the cause of the suffragist." "You mustn't imagine that English women in general sympathise with her, or that such ideas are popular at the Dene," Mrs. Chisholm rejoined. Carroll smiled reassuringly. "I wouldn't have imagined the latter for a moment. But, as I said, on an afternoon of this kind one can be excused for indulging in romantic fancies; and don't you see what brought those old-time heroines into my mind--I mean the elusive resemblance to their latter-day prototype?" Mrs. Chisholm looked puzzled. "No," she declared. "One of them was Greek, another early English, and the finest of all was the Hebrew maid. As they couldn't even have been like one another, how could they have collectively borne a resemblance to anybody else?"