battle for it, as on the day when she had refused to let Robin, the dog,
be chained up when not on duty with the sheep. Adela had objected to his
presence in the house, and Dot had firmly insisted upon it on the score
that Robin had always been an inmate as the companion and protector of
her lonely hours.

Adela had disputed the point with some energy, but she had been
vanquished, and now, when Dot asserted herself, she seldom met with
opposition from her sister-in-law. It was practically impossible that
they should ever be fond of one another. They had nothing in common. Yet
it was very seldom that Jack saw any signs of strain between them. They
dwelt together without antagonism and without intimacy.

Nevertheless, Dot's announcement of her desire to go out into the world
and hew a way for herself came as no surprise to him. He knew that she
was restless and far from happy, knew that his marriage had unsettled
her, albeit in a fashion he had not fathomed till their talk together.
His young sister was very dear to him. She had been thrown upon his care
years before when the death of their parents had left her dependent upon
him. It had always been his wish to have her with him. His love for her
was of a deep, almost maternal nature, and he hated the thought of
parting with her. He had hoped that the companionship of Adela would have
been a joy to her, and he was intensely disappointed that it had proved
otherwise. His anxiety for her welfare had always been uppermost with
him, and it hurt him somewhat when Adela laughed at his hopes and fears
regarding the girl. It was the only point upon which his wife and he
lacked sympathy.

Entering by way of the kitchen premises on that evening of his talk
with Dot, he was surprised to find Adela fulfilling what had come to