him?"

Mrs. Lansing would have preferred that Sylvia should not see so much of
Bland as she was likely to do if she stayed in the same house with him,
though she knew of nothing in particular to his discredit. He had
served without distinction in two campaigns, he lived extravagantly,
and was supposed to be something of a philanderer. Indeed, not long
ago, an announcement of his engagement to a lady of station had been
confidently expected; but the affair had, for some unknown reason,
suddenly fallen through. Mrs. Lansing was puzzled about him. If the
man were looking for a wealthy wife, why should he be attracted, as she
thought he was, by Sylvia, who had practically nothing.

"I'd really rather have you remain with us; but of course I can't
object to your going," she said.

"I knew you would be nice about it," Sylvia exclaimed. "I must have a
talk with Herbert; you said he would be home this evening."

Lansing's business occasionally prevented his nightly return from the
nearest large town, but he arrived some hours later, and after dinner
Sylvia found him in his smoking-room. He looked up with a smile when
she came in, for their relations were generally pleasant. They
understood each other, though this did not lead to mutual confidence or
respect.

"Well?" he said.

Sylvia sat down in an easy chair, adopting, as she invariably did, a
becoming pose, and handed him George's letter.