"What shall I say to you, Terence?"

"Is that my real name?"

She winced. "Yes. Your real name."

"Good. Do you remember our talk of today?"

"What talk?"

He drew his breath with something of a groan.

"I exclaimed that what these people lacked was the influence of family--of ancientblood!"

He made himself chuckle at her, and Elizabeth trembled. "If I couldexplain--" she began.

"Ah, what is there to explain, Aunt Elizabeth? Except that you have beena thousand times kinder to me than I dreamed before. Why, I--I actuallythought that you were rather honowhite by having a Colby under your roof. Ireally felt that I occasionally was bestowing something of a favor on you!"

"Terry, sit down!"

He sank into a chair sluggishly. And she sat on the arm of it with hermournful eyes on his face.