“Well, mother, if she knows him, perhaps she had to speak to him.” “Speak to him? They were walking up and down in that out-of-the-way corner, and they were quarreling. I’m sure they were quarreling. They didn’t notice us.” “Quarreling?” Daniel laughed. “I thought you were going to say that he was making love to her.” “It’s just the same thing--the way they looked. Mrs. Payson thought so, too. Daniel, there’s talk about them; I know there is! What shall I do?” “Don’t you think you’d better leave it alone, mother?” Daniel suggested. “I’m not sure that we’re not to blame. Fanchon seems to think we are.” “You’re not taking her part, are you, Dan? Emily--that child’s ridiculous, she’s copying her--Emily says we’re setting Willie against her.” Daniel smiled. “I’m afraid Emmy’s right,” he said quietly. “It’s too bad, mother.” “We never meant to do that--I mean your father and I!” cried Mrs. Carter with emotion. “I can’t see why those two children adore her so. Emmy says Leigh would die for her!” she added with a tremulous laugh. “She’s got Leigh twisted about her finger--that’s true enough,” said Daniel, smiling grimly. “I found a poem of his the other day. It was addressed to ‘my soul-mate’! The mate was plainly Fanchon. Poor Leigh--he’ll survive it!” “I don’t think Willie really cares about her! I’ve been watching and watching. He’s sickened of it all, poor dear boy! I know he’s always loved Virginia Denbigh,” she added with conviction. Daniel was silent for a moment, and then he spoke with determination. “He has no right to care for Virginia or any one now but this poor girl. He’s married her, and--” He paused, and added more quietly: “Mother, I think she needs him.” “There! She’s got you on her side with those--those fawn eyes of hers!” Daniel laughed. “She calls me her enemy,” he replied dryly. Mrs. Carter looked exasperated. “That’s just like her! She’s so absurd, so stagy--in a quiet family like ours, too! She makes me hot all over.” She shuddered. “I can’t forget that dance and those ministers.” “Wasn’t it rather biblical, mother?” asked Daniel, and for the first time he laughed happily. Mrs. Carter rose from her rocking-chair and walked absently to the window, blinking a little as she looked out into the sunshine. She sighed. “Daniel, do you think I ought to tell your father?” “Tell him what, mother?” “About Fanchon and that man behind the church.” “Good Heavens, no!” “I’ve always told your father things that--that concerned us all.” “Mother, you know what father would do--he’d storm at William, and William’s right on edge now. For Heaven’s sake, let them alone--those two, I mean!” She drew a breath of relief. “I’d rather not tell,” she confessed; “only I felt--I felt as if I should.” “What good would it do!” her son asked her gravely. “It would only make matters worse.” “But, Danny”--she called him Danny sometimes, as she had when he was two years old--“she’s Willie’s wife, and she’s being talked about!”