denounced the whole Tracy tribe, declaring them but a race of upstarts,
no better than he was, and saying he would yet be even with them, and
make them feel the heft of his powerful disapprobation. Whatever else he
said was not heard, for Arthur shut the door upon him, and returning to
the library, where his brother stood, pale, trembling, and anxious for
the votes he felt he had lost, he became on the instant as quiet and
gentle as a child, and, consulting his watch, said in his natural tone:

'Quarter of seven, and the train is due at half-past. Please tell John
to have the carriage ready. I am going myself this time.'

Frank opened his lips to protest against it, but something in his
brother's manner kept him quiet and submissive. He was no longer master
there--unless--unless--he scarcely dared whisper to himself what; but
when the carriage went for the fourth time to the station after Gretchen
and returned without her, he said to his wife:

'I think Arthur is crazy, and possibly we shall have to shut him up.'

'Yes, I wish you would,' was Dolly's reply, in a tone of relief, for,
thus far, Arthur's presence in the house had not added to her comfort.
'Of course he is crazy, and ought to be taken care of before he tears
the house down over our heads, or does some dreadful thing.'

'That's so, and I will see St. Claire to-morrow and find out the proper
steps to be taken,' said Frank.

That night he dreamed of windows with iron bars across them, and
strait-jackets, into which he was thrusting his brother, while a face,
the loveliest he had ever seen, looked reproachfully at him, with tears