I say, Uncle, is Landon coming back to-night?"

Jocelyn turned upon him sharply.

"No!" he answered, in so fierce a tone that Robin stood amazed--
"Why do you all keep on asking me about Landon? He loves drink
more than life, and he's having all he wants to-night. I've let
him off work to-morrow."

Robin was silent for a moment out of sheer surprise.

"Oh well, that's all right, if you don't mind," he said, at last--
"We're pretty busy--but I daresay we can manage without him."

"I should think so!" and Hugo gave a short laugh of scorn--"Briar
Farm would have come to a pretty pass if it could not get on
without a man like Landon!"

There was another silent pause.

Priscilla gave an anxious side-glance at Innocent's troubled face,
and decided to relieve the tension by useful commonplace talk.

"Well, Landon or no Landon, supper's ready!" she said, briskly--
"and it's been waiting an hour at least. Say grace, Mister
Jocelyn, and I'll carve!"

Jocelyn looked at her bewilderedly.

"Say grace?" he queried--"what for?"