"Ah, but it would distress me immeasurably to feel that you believe he needs a champion, or I a defender. You do not know him, uncle; when you do you will not fail to love him. I do not say that he is worldly wise, or quite fitted yet to battle with the future, but that it is his earnest desire to fit himself for what I feel will be a great struggle, and to perform his duty in a manly way. No man can do more, and, whatever may be our future, I shall love and honor him to the last." "My dear Nansie," said Mr. Loveday, "say that you are partly right in your views of my feelings for your husband; be content now to know that you have won me over to his side." "I am indeed content to know it, uncle." "But should that deprive a man of his right to judge actions and circumstances? We sometimes condemn those whom we love best." "It should not deprive him of the right," replied Nansie, adding, with what her husband would have told her was feminine logic, "but you must not condemn Kingsley." "I will not. I will apply ordinary tests. When he took the situation with Mr. Seymour, did he know anything of his employer?" "Nothing; but we were in great stress, and Kingsley was compelled to take advantage of his opportunity." "Admitting that. But a man must face his responsibilities, and discharge them to the best of his ability." "Yes, uncle, to the best of his ability." "My dear, had you been a man, you would have made a very good special pleader. To continue. What is your husband's salary?" A look of distress was in Nansie's eyes, and she did not reply. "I infer," said Mr. Loveday, replying for her, "that you do not know." "I fear I do," said Nansie, in a low tone. "Tell me, then." "I fear, uncle, that there is no salary attached to the situation." "But there should be?" "Yes, there should be." "Mr. Seymour, wishing to engage a gentleman as part companion and part secretary, must have been prepared to enter into some kind of monetary arrangement. Whose fault is it that the arrangement was not made? I will reply for you again. It must have been Kingsley's fault. Not very practical, Nansie." "I am afraid, uncle," said Nansie, speaking slowly, and as though she were about to commit an act of treason, "that Kingsley is not very practical." "But how is a man to get along in the world," said Mr. Loveday, with a curious mixture of decision and helplessness, "who thus neglects his opportunities? I am speaking entirely in a spirit of kindness, Nansie." "Yes, uncle, there's no occasion for you to remind me of that. But how can you blame Kingsley? He meets Mr. Seymour as one gentleman meets another. He is too delicate-minded to broach the subject of salary, and perhaps Mr. Seymour forgets it."