“Yes,” said Jarvis, something swelling strangely within him as he looked down into the upturned face of the child, with its candid brown eyes. “What made you cut his tail off?” demanded Jimmy. “Peg says it’s a mean trick to cut off horses’ tails, ’cause they need their tails to brush off the flies.” “Jimmy!” called Barbara again, her face crimsoning. “I didn’t cut it off,” Jarvis replied, with every evidence of sincerity. “I bought the horse just that way. I don’t like it myself.” He glanced at Barbara with a quiet smile. “I’m afraid I’m very much in the way,” he said. “But I wanted to talk with you—on a matter of some importance.” XVII A SILENCE, difficult to break, settled upon the man and the maid, as Jimmy’s plodding feet toiled up the stairs. “Good-night, Barb’ra,” his wistful little voice called from the top of the stairs. “Good-night, Jimmy dear,” she answered. Her eyes, clouded with pain, sought Jarvis’s face. She had suddenly leaped to the conclusion that he had come to tell her something concerning the contract; perhaps to inform her that her prolonged furlough was at an end. His next words confirmed this. “I believe,” he said slowly, “that you are under bonds to leave your home for a considerable period. Five years, or thereabouts, to be exact. Am I right?” “Yes,” faltered Barbara. She had grown very pale. “That is why,” she said bravely, “I have taught Jimmy to go upstairs alone. But he doesn’t like it—yet.” Her eager eyes were fastened upon his face. “Did you come—to—tell me? Must I go—now?” she asked. He waved his hand deprecatingly. “Oh, no,” he said. “It isn’t that—exactly. In fact, I have nothing to do with the matter; only——” He paused, as if to choose his words with care. “I happen to know the person concerned in the transaction, and——” “You know him?” breathed Barbara. She leaned toward him eagerly, the color coming back to her face in a swift flood. “Then won’t you tell me——” He shook his head. “I’m under bonds to preserve my client’s incognito,” he said. “But——” He looked at her compassionately. “Are you finding the delay very hard to bear?” he asked. “Is there——” Again he hesitated. “Is there any particular reason why you should wish to know more about the matter?—any reason why you cannot wait my client’s pleasure?” She was silent. “It is that I should like you to tell me,” he went on deliberately. “I am instructed, by my client—to find out—to—er—ascertain, in short, if you are in any way dissatisfied with the present status of the affair. If you will be quite frank with me I shall greatly appreciate your confidence, and so will—the person I have the honor to represent. Of this I can speak very positively.” “Why,” asked Barbara, her words coming with a rush, “do I wait at all? If my time is worth—all the money your client paid for it—why am I not working? That is one thing I want to know.”