do thoroughly.' She had to learn it through experience. But as you trust
me, trust my pupil."

The soft smile that played upon her husband's face was reflected on Mrs.
Levice's.

"Oh, Ruth," she murmured tremulously, "it will be so hard for you."

This was a virtual laying down of arms, and Ruth was satisfied.


Chapter IV

Louis Arnold, the only other member of the Levice family, had been forced
to leave town on some business the morning after Mrs. Levice's attack at
the Merrill reception. He was, therefore, much surprised and shocked on
his return a week later at finding his aunt in bed and such rigorous
measures for quiet in vogue.

Arnold had been an inmate of the house for the past twelve years. He was a
direct importation from France, which he had left just before attaining his
majority, the glory of soldier-life not proving seductive to his
imagination. He had no sooner taken up his abode with his uncle than he
was regarded as the most useful and ornamental piece of foreign vertu in
the beautiful house.

Being a business man by nature, keen, wary, and indefatigable, he was soon
able to take almost the entire charge of Levice's affairs. In a few years
his uncle ceased to question his business capabilities. From the time he
arrived, he naturally fell into the position of his aunt's escort, thus