“You know that I must,” she said proudly. “I could not rest under so heavy an obligation to—anyone.” “No,” he agreed. “I see that—I understand.” A melancholy smile touched his lips. “Do not be alarmed as to the obligation,” he said quietly. “My client is a man who is accustomed, like Shylock, to exact the last penny—even to the pound of flesh. He will not let you off easily.” Barbara drew a quick breath. “It is a man, then?” she asked. “I—hoped——” “You were hoping it was a woman,” he said dryly. “I have committed an indiscretion in telling you so much. But—conceive, if you will, a man, well along in years, the—guardian of a child, who requires——” “Is the child,” asked Barbara, “a boy or girl?” He hesitated. “Er—I cannot tell you as to that. Let us suppose for the moment that it is a boy.” “Have you seen the child?” He looked at her with what she would have called in another a bantering tenderness in his deep-set eyes. In connection with Stephen Jarvis the suggestion was untenable—absurd. “Do you know you are cross-examining me with considerable adroitness?” he said. “I must be on my guard, or you will force me to tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” “And why should you not tell me the truth?” she urged. “I think I have the right to know it.” “Not at present,” he said coolly. “I am in honor bound to my client, you should remember. I may lose my—er—commission, if I am not careful.” “I should be glad to know that the child is—that he is not an imbecile.” She answered his amazed look with swift explanation. “A woman who saw my advertisement wanted me to take charge of an imbecile child; that is why——” “And you would have done it, Barbara? You were ready to commit yourself to such a future, just because I——” He stopped short with a visible effort. “No; the child is—— He is a very dear and lovable little fellow, I should say. And he needs—you. He is—quite alone in the world.” “So,” she murmured, “is Jimmy. And when I am gone there will be no one——” “You will not be obliged to leave your brother right away, you know,” he suggested. “And—possibly not at all.” Her face became illuminated with a sudden inspiration. “Why shouldn’t the man—this client of yours—bring the child here for me to take care of? I should be so glad to have him right away. This is a healthy spot. I could make him very comfortable.” Jarvis shook his head. “I shouldn’t like to suggest such a thing,” he said slowly. “It might savor of impertinence——” Her face crimsoned with mortification. “I didn’t mean——” she stammered. “Not on your part,” he amended hastily; “understand me, please. Your idea is—quite like you; quite what I should expect, knowing you as I do. But—I fear it wouldn’t do. My client——” “He must be a peculiar sort of person,” hazarded Barbara. “He is,” agreed Jarvis. “So much so that—I feel I ought to warn you in one particular.” Barbara waited in expectant silence.