deference that Agatha liked. He owned a large orchard and had sufficient
capital to cultivate it properly. George Strange was marked by a
complacent, self-confident manner that his urbanity somewhat toned down.
He dealt in artificial fertilizers and farming implements, and it was
said that he never lost a customer and seldom made a bad debt.

In character, George was unlike his sister, because while unimaginative
he generally saw where his advantage lay. For all that, he was just and
often generous. He was married, and talked to Mrs. Farnam about his wife
and child when he was not eating with frank enjoyment and telling
humorous stories. While the others laughed and joked Agatha mused. They
had commonplace aims and duties that brought them happiness; but she had
been given a harder task. Still it was a task that could not be shirked;
she had accepted it and must carry it out.

Some time after supper Mrs. Farnam went away, and Farnam presently made
an excuse for following his wife. When they had gone George remarked: "I
must pull out to-morrow, but Florence sends a message. She wants you to
stop with us for two or three months."

"Florence is kind," said Agatha. "I would like to go, but you know it's
impossible."

"I don't know," George rejoined in an authoritative voice. "I'm your
elder brother and it's my duty to see you do what you ought. To begin
with, I looked up your doctor and he told me you needed a long rest."

"It can't be got. I must go back to school when the holidays are over."

"Wait a bit! None of us is as indispensable as we sometimes think."