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place.”
    â€œVery few things are. And being in debt is hardlyone of them. Of course I am not talking of your troubles.”
    â€œI shall have to remain in it. I cannot ask Father about such things, when he is on the brink of eternity.”
    â€œPut the bills on Mater’s table. I daresay she will pay them. She likes to be trusted.”
    â€œI am glad to cause her pleasure. I will give her my full trust.”
    â€œDo you really think that Father will live to eternity?”
    â€œOf course I do not. I should be as ashamed of it, as you would. I meant an eternity of nothingness, which was a good thing to mean. It almost seems you might mean something else. I admire Father for quietly facing extinction. I see nothing in facing eternity, when we should all like to so much.”
    â€œWhat does Father think himself?” said Simon.
    â€œHe thinks what we do, and knows we think it. It makes it hard to know how to behave with him.”
    â€œHe said we were to forget it. I suppose he meant what he said.”
    â€œSimon, how can you suppose that?”
    â€œIf he heard us talking, what would he think?”
    â€œThat we were covering our feelings. Or I hope he would. And in my case there would be truth in it. In yours there is the knowledge that there will be a person less in your path.”
    â€œI do not really consider that. If I did, I should not talk of it. And it will not be so much of a change for me. I have seen Uncle’s life as a better one thanFather’s. And a feeling is not less strong, that another can exist with it.”
    â€œI think the strife between them weakens it, when it is not strong enough to kill the other.”
    â€œYou need not be so sure you are nobler than I am.”
    â€œI am sure,” said Walter.
    â€œYou are giving Father more worry.”
    â€œWell, the black sheep does turn out to have the deepest heart.”
    â€œNow Deakin wants you out of the way,” said Julia, returning to the hall. “He has to attend to his work. And, Simon, you should do the same. The day will be gone before you have begun.”
    â€œI thought I felt it going,” said Walter. “There was less of the bleakness of having the whole morning before me.”
    â€œIt can be a trying position, Deakin, to be the one woman in a family.”
    â€œI have thought it at times, ma’am. There is the lack of interchange. Not that there is ever that, except in a measure.”
    â€œI suppose your problem is the opposite, in your life in a group of women.”
    â€œWell, ma’am, life! I move and breathe among them.”
    â€œWe have found you a good friend. This anxiety about Mr. Hamish is yours as well as ours.”
    â€œYes, ma’am, it adds a touch of darkness to the greyness of life. And may perhaps help us to see it as no more than grey.”
    â€œYou feel things are as gloomy as that?”
    â€œThere seems no reason for denying it, ma’am.”
    â€œI hope you are happy with us?”
    â€œYes, ma’am, as the word is used.”
    â€œI have had a good deal of joy in my life.”
    â€œIt is looking back, ma’am. Distance lends what is needed. Though I would hardly employ the usual term.”
    â€œHave you no happy memories?”
    â€œWell, they are uniform, ma’am.”
    â€œPerhaps your life has been more monotonous than mine.”
    â€œWell, ma’am, neither has left its groove.”
    â€œYou have the satisfaction of feeling useful years behind you.”
    â€œAnd also before me, ma’am. And there are other epithets.”
    â€œI do not think lives lived solely for ourselves are any happier.”
    â€œWell, ma’am, few have the experience.”
    â€œThe friendship between Sir Edwin and Mr. Hamish has done much for them.”
    â€œYes, ma’am, it has come to their help.”
    â€œI hope my sons’ friendship will serve them as well.”
    â€œYes,