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"Mother won't be down to dinner," she finally said

"Is she ill?" he asked after a aret will take sohter had but little to say to each other during the meal Their efforts at conversation were perfunctory, commonplace, an unusual state of affairs of which neither took notice

"You look tired, father Has it been a hard day?"

"A rather trying one, Jane We're having so that we are rushing to the Philippines"

"Is it settled that you are to besilence "By the way, I have good news for you Mr Clegg toldto take Graydon into the firreat? Really, it is quite remarkable You are not the only person, it seems, who thinks a lot of that boy"

"A partner? Really? Oh, isn't it glorious? I knew he could--I told hi" She waited a moment and then added: "His father was here to-day for a cup of tea" Cable caught the slightly altered tone and looked up She was trifling with her fork, palpably preoccupied

"I' her closely

"You like him very much, don't you, father?"

"Certainly--and I'ers and then dropped upon the plate She looked up in confusion Cable's eyes were bent upon her intently and she had never seen so queer a light in them Scarcely more than the fraction of a second passed before he lowered his gaze, but the e of comprehension froirl at least suspected the true situation A moment later he arose abruptly and announced that he would run up to see herdown to soht," she said "We'll be very quiet and try not to disturb you Don't work too hard, daddy dear"

Upstairs Frances Cable was battling with herself in supreme despair Confession was on her lips a dozen tie failed her When she heard his footsteps in the hallway she was ready to cry out the truth to him and end the suspense As he opened the door to enter, the spirit of fairness turned frail and fled before the appeal of procrastination Wait! Wait! Wait! cried the powerful weakness in her heart, and it conquered She could not tell him then To-morrow--the next day, yes, but not then It was too much to demand of herself, after all