VALLEY

oys.MRS. DAVIS MAKES A CALL 151"He isn't," cried Faith. "We're not," cried theBut Mrs. Davis was gone."Goodness, isn't she mad !" said Jerry. "And whatis a 'varmint' anyhow ?"John Meredith paced up and down the parlour for afew minutes; then he went back to his study and satdown. But he did not return to his German theology.He was too grievously disturbed for that. Mrs. Davishad wakened him up with a vengeance. Was he sucha remiss, careless father as she had accused him ofbeing? Had he so scandalously neglected the bodilyand spiritual welfare of the four little motherless creaturesdependent on him? Were his people talking ofit as harshly as Mrs. Davis had declared? It must beso,since Mrs. Davis had come to ask for Una in thefull and confident belief that he would hand the childover to her as unconcernedly and gladly as one mighthand over a strayed, unwelcome kitten. And, if so,what then ?John Meredith groaned and resumed his pacing upand down the dusty, disordered room. What couldhe do ? He loved his children as deeply as any fathercould and he knew, past the powerof Mrs. Davis orany of her ilk, to disturb his conviction, that they lovedhim devotedly. But was he fit to have charge of them ?He knew none better his weaknesses and limitations.What was needed was a good woman's presenceand influence and common sense. But how could thatbe arranged?Even were he able to get such a house-