at some of the quality houses tonight; and she'll be singing or dancing
or playing bridge with one or other of that pale, rakish lot I see when
I drive through the town."

"Mother!"

"Yes, John, a bad, idle, lounging lot, that don't do a day's work to pay
for their living."

"They are likely gentlemen, mother, who have no work to do."

"Gentlemen! No, indeed! I will give them the first four letters of the
word--no more. They are not gentlemen, but they may be _gents_. We don't
expect much from _gents_, and how the women of today stand them beats
me."

John laughed a little, but he said he was weary and would go to his
room. And as he stood at Mrs. Hatton's side, telling her that he was
glad to be with her again, she found herself in the mood that enabled
her to say,

"John, my dear lad, you will soon marry, either Jane or some other
woman. You must do it, you know, for you must have sons and daughters,
that you may inherit the promise of God's blessing which is for you and
_your children_. Then your family must have a home, but not in Hatton
Hall--not just yet. There cannot be two mistresses in one house, can
there?"

"No, but by my father's will and his oft-repeated desire, this house is
your home, mother, as long as you live. I am going to build my own house