for allowing her mind to stray upon such subjects in the face of
their present desperate condition, she rose to meet him, and make
tea.

Cytherea's interest to know how her brother had been received at Mr.
Gradfield's broke forth into words at once. Almost before they had
sat down to table, she began cross-examining him in the regular
sisterly way.

'Well, Owen, how has it been with you to-day? What is the place
like--do you think you will like Mr. Gradfield?'

'O yes. But he has not been there to-day; I have only had the head
draughtsman with me.'

Young women have a habit, not noticeable in men, of putting on at
a moment's notice the drama of whosoever's life they choose.
Cytherea's interest was transferred from Mr. Gradfield to his
representative.

'What sort of a man is he?'

'He seems a very nice fellow indeed; though of course I can hardly
tell to a certainty as yet. But I think he's a very worthy fellow;
there's no nonsense in him, and though he is not a public school man
he has read widely, and has a sharp appreciation of what's good in
books and art. In fact, his knowledge isn't nearly so exclusive as
most professional men's.'

'That's a great deal to say of an architect, for of all professional