the success of your book he has been asked about so much--it's given
the children quite a different position. Millicent says that
wherever they go the first question asked is, 'Are you any relation
of the author of "The Vital Thing"?' Of course we're all very proud
of the book; but it entails obligations which you may not have
thought of in writing it."

The Professor sat gazing at the letters and newspaper clippings on
the study-table which he had just successfully defended from the
camera of the _Inglenook_. He took up an envelope bearing the name
of a popular weekly paper.

"I don't know that the _Inglenook_ would help much," he said, "but I
suppose this might."

Mrs. Linyard's eyes glowed with maternal avidity.

"What is it, Samuel?"

"A series of 'Scientific Sermons' for the Round-the-Gas-Log column
of _The Woman's World_. I believe that journal has a larger
circulation than any other weekly, and they pay in proportion."

He had not even asked the extent of Jack's indebtedness. It had been
so easy to relieve recent domestic difficulties by the timely
production of Harviss's two cheques, that it now seemed natural to
get Mrs. Linyard out of the room by promising further
reinforcements. The Professor had indignantly rejected Harviss's
suggestion that he should follow up his success by a second volume
on the same lines. He had sworn not to lend more than a passive