'Dislike?' She met his eyes frankly.

'Oh, no! How can

there be any question of that sort between us?'
'I don't understand. Why not?'
'Don't you? Yet it's simple; only that

'I will not be

A pensioner in marriage. Sacraments
Are not to feed the paupers of the world.'

You will have to be content with having Jeanetta only half the year. Which reminds me that I have a request to make. My summer holidays begin next week; may my half of the year last from now till the middle of January? You see, that would bring my two longest holidays into my half, which will be more cheerful for Jeanetta than term-time.'

'Yes,' he said, with an effort. It is all the same to me.'

Her glance kindled. No, it isn't,' she answered, softly. It means you have to wait six months, and that is hard. Thank you.' She rose to go.

'Good-bye,' he said, and something in his voice-some touch of serenity or confidence-caught her quick ear. She frowned thoughtfully, and he waited in apprehension. Had she really by some intuitive process divined his thought, which had been, This won't last; she's only holding off a while?'

'Mr. Vyne,' she said at last, we can't-leave it like this.' (She had, then!)

'Like what?' he asked, guiltily.

Her voice was low and tired. I mean- -some vestige of pride remains to me, some necessity to be not wholly at your mercy. And so there seems no other way.' Her lips quivered slightly, but she held his eyes without faltering. 'I want you to know that, if you ever again ask me to marry you, you will be forcing me to give Jeanetta up to you entirely. That is all. Good-bye."

'Hold me up,' begged Jeanetta in a whisper.

Vyne lifted her to the window, and silently they watched Jean's retreating form. At the corner she turned, smiling and waving. Then she disappeared; it was her last glimpse of Jeanetta for another six months.

Jeanetta gulped back a sob. Her grey, unnatural childhood had taught her an infinitely pathetic, unchildlike self-control: to both of them she was the dearer for it.

Uncle Tony!' she faltered, confident of sympathy. Oh, Uncle Tony!'

But for once there was no response; his face was drawn and haggard.

Jeanetta's fingers touched his cheek. 'Dearest, you're not well ? '

He started. The look, the tender tone were Jean's, unconsciously copied, and smote him with intolerable pain. Just so must Jean have spoken to Jeanetta a thousand times: just so she would never speak to him. It was from her image stamped on the child's soul that he had learnt at last to know Jean-and, knowing, to seek in vain for one door not locked to hope.

'I'm all right, Netta,' he answered, with an effort; 'quite well.' He carried her to the fire, and sat down with her in his arms.

Then you're miserable, Uncle Tony?' she urged anxiously. He tried to smile. Aren't we all always miserable on Change

Days, Netta?'

Her lips quivered. 'It gets worse every time,' she whispered. 'Uncle Tony, please don't mind my suggesting it, but wouldn't it be nice if you were to marry Auntie Jean, and we all lived together always?'

He drew her closer so that she could not see his face. Very nice, sweetheart.'

off.

Then why don't you?'

'Because Auntie Jean doesn't like the idea.'

'Oh!' Jeanetta thought deeply. And yet--' she broke

'Oh, of course! Who wouldn't?' he demanded hilariously. The child was not deceived. But she does,' she insisted. Only-only-' she was clearly battling with some problem.

'What is it, baby? Don't worry,' Vyne said, tenderly.

'But it's-it's so difficult,' the child cried piteously, ' to know how much it would be honourable to tell you, Uncle Tony, isn't it?' His heart smote him; what sort of cares were these to be cast on a child of nine? Only I-I know she does.'

Jeanetta's insistence set his pulses stirring with a wild hope. 'Netta! How do you know?'

She hesitated. That's just it; ought I to say? She never lets me tell her things-private things about you. Do you think?' VOL. XXXV.—NO, 200 N.S.

14

It whipped the colour to his cheeks. No, Netta, you're quite right. You mustn't tell me.'

Honour-even honour he had to learn from Jean through the child's lips from Jean, whom he had first set aside as besmirched, and afterwards condescended to reconsider, for Jeanetta's sake. No wonder his punishment endured!

'Uncle Tony, why doesn't she like the idea?'

Vyne had theories with regard to telling children the truth. He answered, frankly, 'Well, sweetheart, she thinks I only want to marry her for your sake-so as never to be parted from you.'

To this the child gave absorbed attention. thinks you love me best ?-better than her?'

'Yes.'

You mean she

'Oh!' Jeanetta smiled, wisely. But grown-ups don't love children best,' she announced.

'Jeanetta! You-you young Solomon! How do you know

that?'

But Jeanetta was absorbed in the main issue. So if we could only persuade her you did love her best, Uncle Tony-?' she urged.

He kissed her. 'If, Netta,' he agreed, humouring her, and silence fell.

Suddenly Jeanetta broke it. Uncle Tony!' She drew a deep breath, 'I've got the-most-tremendous idea!' She pulled his head down, and whispered.

'By Jove!' Vyne stared at her, his eyes alert and eager. 'I believe you have. Jeanetta, if there is a way, you've found it. We'll-yes, we'll risk it!'

Jeanetta nodded, vigorously. He gave her a keen glance.

6

'But you?' he said, doubtfully. Can you stand it?'

6

The child's body stiffened. Of course I can!' she declared, and then suddenly nestled closer. Till-till Change Day, anyhow,' she said. The last Change Day.'

'You-little brick!' Vyne whispered.

So, when the middle of July brought Jean again, Jeanetta was not waiting as usual. Jean looked round eagerly as the door opened, and Vyne came in alone.

'Jeanetta is not ready?' she asked.

He shut the door. May I have a few words with you first?' She assented, coldly. What is it?'

'Only this I want once more to ask you to marry me.'

It caught her like a blow; she shrank back.

'So it's come,' she said, in a dazed voice. 'You-you can't live without her, and you force me to give her up.' Sudden scorn blazed in her eyes. 'Aren't you afraid I may say Yes?'

'Jean!' He winced.

She ignored the cry. May I see Jeanetta to say good-bye?' Her voice was ice. And this was the moment on which he must venture all! It appalled him.

'I'm afraid you can't,' he said, lamely.

'Can't? She's not-ill?'

'No, not ill. She's away.'

Her brows met in a quick frown of concentration. 'Where?' she demanded.

'At school.'

It forced a cry from her. You've sent-that baby-to school?' 'She asked to go."'

Her gesture was indignant.

As if she could know! Besides,

what right had you, without my consent?'

'I had absolutely no right.'

She searched his face for a key to his bald, halting words. Then she walked impatiently to the window.

'When did you do it?'

'Six months ago. Except for the Easter holidays I have not seen her.'

'But why?-why?'

'Jean! Will you not see? Jeanetta and I have done the best we could.'

'Oh!' she cried. Will you never tell me plainly what it all means?'

He waited till, in surprise, she turned her head.

'You thought,' he answered, with a passion of sincerity, 'that I wanted to marry you so as to keep Jeanetta. Didn't I have to prove I could live without Jeanetta in order to prove I couldn't live without you?'

It was as though a lightning flash had riven the skies, leaving behind it the heavens opened.

'You did it-you have lived all these months without herfor me?-to prove to me ?--'

'My dear! My dear! Is it proved?

Her lips parted in a strange, startled smile. Why-why, I think so. It means, doesn't it, that after all it's the-real-thing now?' Her voice broke on a sob. Anthony! Doesn't it?' 'The real thing,' he answered, humbly.

Suddenly she was beside him, and her hands in his. It seems,' she said, a little unsteadily, 'that, after all, I am to be a pensioner'

He met her eyes, startled. They were clear pools of laughter. 'For kisses,' she murmured. . . .

'Anthony!' With a remorseful cry she broke away. Our lamb! Our little, sacrificial lamb!'

'Jeanetta?'

'Yes. When do her holidays begin?'

'On the 25th.'

'Ten days,' she mused, and with a new meaning he echoed, daringly, 'Ten days!'

Her eyes wavered.

'Jean,' he asked, 'would you? There would be time, andwe have waited so long.'

With a little laugh she turned to his writing-table. 'Where is the Bradshaw ?' she asked.

Here,' he said, bewildered. But, Jean, what-why--?' 'Please look up,' she said, softly,' the train Jeanetta is to-to come home by.'

V. H. FRIEDLAENDER.