there was a conscious bargain, and our action on Mrs. Brash is to deprive
her of the sense of keeping her side of it, various things may happen
that won't be good either for her or for ourselves. She may
conscientiously throw up the position."

"Yes," my companion mused--"for she is conscientious. Or Nina, without
waiting for that, may cast her forth."

I faced it all. "Then we should have to keep her."

"As a regular model?" Mrs. Munden was ready for anything. "Oh that would
be lovely!"

But I further worked it out. "The difficulty is that she's not a model,
hang it--that she's too good for one, that she's the very thing herself.
When Outreau and I have each had our go, that will be all; there'll be
nothing left for any one else. Therefore it behoves us quite to
understand that our attitude's a responsibility. If we can't do for her
positively more than Nina does--"

"We must let her alone?" My companion continued to muse. "I see!"

"Yet don't," I returned, "see too much. We _can_ do more."

"Than Nina?" She was again on the spot. "It wouldn't after all be
difficult. We only want the directly opposite thing--and which is the
only one the poor dear can give. Unless indeed," she suggested, "we
simply retract--we back out."

I turned it over. "It's too late for that. Whether Mrs. Brash's peace