It was plain that Jane-Ellen was going to make another effort to improve the situation. She was thinking hard. At last she began: [Illustration: At the sight of Crane, Jane-Ellen stopped with a gesture of the utmost horror] "I don't defend what we've done, sir, but if you would have let me see you alone this afternoon, I was going to ask that Brindlebury might stay just for this one night. Only I couldn't speak before Mr. Tucker, I'm so afraid of him." "There you go again," said Burton. "You're not telling the truth. You're not in the least afraid of Tucker." "Well, not as much as I am of you, sir." "Jane-Ellen," said Crane, "I believe you are a very naughty girl." He was surprised to find that every trace of ill temper had left him. "I know what you mean, sir," said the cook, and this time her voice had a certain commonplace tone. "And it's true. I haven't always been perfectly honest with you, but a servant can't be candid and open, sir; you know, yourself, it wouldn't do." "I'd like to see it tried," returned Crane. "Well, I'm honest now, sir," she went on, "in asking you to let Brin stay. He'll apologize, I'm sure--" "I will not," said the boy, still packing. But his sister hardly noticed the interruption. "He will do what I tell him when he comes to think it over, if you will only relent. Don't you think you are just a little hard on him? He is my brother, and it would make me so happy if you would let him stay." The desire to make others happy is not a crime, yet Crane felt nothing but shame at the obvious weakening of his own resolution under the peculiarly melting voice of Jane-Ellen. He glanced at the boy, he thought of Tucker, he looked long at Jane-Ellen. Who knows what might have happened if his eyes, which he decided he must wrench away from hers, had not suddenly fallen upon a small object lying undisguised on Brindlebury's dressing-table. It was the pearl set miniature. All three saw it almost at the same instant. The hands of all went out toward it, but Crane's reached it first. He took it up. "Have you any explanation to offer, Brindlebury?" he said. "I can explain," exclaimed Jane-Ellen. "I'm sure you can," Crane answered. "The only question is, shall I believe your explanation." "He took it because it reminded him of me. That's the only reason he wanted it." Crane looked from the miniature to the cook. He knew that this was also the only reason why he himself wanted it. "Jane-Ellen," he said, "go downstairs and order the motor to come to the side door at once." "Mr. Crane, you're not going to have Brin arrested?" He shook his head. "I ought to, perhaps, but I am not going to. I'm going to take him in the motor to what I consider a safe distance, and drop him." "Just like a stray cat," gasped Brindlebury's sister. "Cats usually come back," said the boy, with a return of his normal spirits. "Cats have nine lives," replied Crane, significantly.