" A troubled look came into her face. "Simeon would like me to go to Polly when she is out of health and needs me," she said, in a tone she meant to be assertive, but which was only appealing, "and if we are careful about spending, it is because we are proud and do not wish to incur obligations." The _we_ was a masterpiece of loyalty, and French was suitably impressed by it.

"Dear Mrs. Ponsonby," he said, "you speak as if _I_ were likely to misjudge Simeon, whereas my object in coming here was to prevent _your_ misjudging him by allowing your sensitive conscience to forbid pleasures he would be the first to suggest." The speech was genuine; in Stephen's estimation his friend had noble qualities, and in bearing testimony to them he was beginning his chapter of self-discipline.