Marion was not the person to delay the doing of anything which she had made up her mind should be done, nor had she the faculty instinctive in many women, of approaching a critical subject with that deliberate and delicate touch of preparation which smooths the way for a more open attack. Whatever was uppermost in her mind was apt to take possession of her with so great an intensity that she had no longer the mastery of herself required for this method of handling. She did not trouble herself to join in the family conversation at luncheon, and when her father went into his study,--a small room choked with a heterogeneous collection of books and pamphlets, heaped here and thrown there in utter carelessness to dust and disorder,--Marion followed him and said abruptly,-- "Papa, something must be done to improve Marmaduke's position. Will you write to Mr Tregennas, and point this out?" "Write to Mr Tregennas!" said Mr Miles sharply, turning round from the papers on his table. "What do you mean? Is Marmaduke dismissed? No? Then there cannot be anything much amiss." He said this with a relieved air, going back to his papers. "Marion, I wish you'd just see whether that last hospital report is up stairs. Mannering tells me I've been down on the committee for a twelvemonth, but I cannot credit it." "Marmaduke has been at that hateful place for two years," said Marion, unheeding. "It is quite unfit for him, and some one ought to point it out to his uncle." "What is the matter with the place?" Mr Miles asked, still searching. "Really, your mother must speak to the maids; I cannot allow them to disturb everything under pretence of tidying. I am confident I left that report on this table." Marion was trembling with impatience. "Papa," she said, "you might think a little more about poor Marmaduke's happiness." "Happiness? Humph! He is too young to be talking about happiness. Let him take what comes to him, and be thankful for it--" The Vicar turned suddenly round with a quick, clumsy movement, "He has not been talking nonsense to you, has he?" The girl was standing with her back to the door, so that a clear light fell upon her. As her father spoke, a soft beautiful change came over her face, tender brightness shone in the dark eyes, the curve of the mouth was touched with tremulous joy, a faint glow on her cheek gave an indescribable look of youth, and her head bent gently with the perfection of womanly grace.