 him come. I wouldn't for anything.«
    »I don't say it for certain.« He took a sip of his coffee. »I have had no
opportunity of observing him with much attention. But he's not the kind of man I
care for.«
    »Then no doubt it's better as it is.«
    »Yes. I don't see that anything could be done now. We shall see whether he
gets on. I advise you not to mention him to her.«
    »Oh no, I won't.«
    She moved as if to go away, but her heart had been made uneasy by that short
conversation which followed on Marian's reading the letter, and there were still
things she wished to put into words.
    »If those young ladies go on writing to her, I dare say they'll often speak
about their brother.«
    »Yes, it's rather unfortunate.«
    »And you know, Alfred, he may have asked them to do it.«
    »I suppose there's one subject on which all women can be subtle,« muttered
Yule, smiling. The remark was not a kind one, but he did not make it worse by
his tone.
    The listener failed to understand him, and looked with her familiar
expression of mental effort.
    »We can't help that,« he added, with reference to her suggestion. »If he has
any serious thoughts, well, let him go on and wait for opportunities.«
    »It's a great pity, isn't it, that she can't see more people - of the right
kind?«
    »No use talking about it. Things are as they are. I can't see that her life
is unhappy.«
    »It isn't very happy.«
    »You think not?«
    »I'm sure it isn't.«
    »If I get The Study things may be different. Though - But it's no use
talking about what can't be helped. Now don't you go encouraging her to think
herself lonely, and so on. It's best for her to keep close to work, I'm sure of
that.«
    »Perhaps it is.«
    »I'll think it over.«
    Mrs Yule silently left the room, and went back to her sewing.
    She had understood that Though - and the what can't be helped. Such
allusions reminded her of a time unhappier than the
