Supper in the bright cedar-paneled room was a cheerful function, and as she looked about and joined in the talk Agatha was conscious of a feeling that was hardly strong enough for envy or actual discontent, but had a touch of both.  Mabel looked happy and modestly proud.  She was obviously satisfied and in a way enjoyed all that a woman could wish for.  The house was pretty; Farnam was indulgent and showed his wife a 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.”

Agatha felt half amused and half annoyed.  George often made remarks like this and imagined that they clinched his arguments.  She saw that he had been meddling.

“What did you do after seeing the doctor?” she asked suspiciously.

“I went to your principal at the school.  She said she would talk to the managers and had no doubt that if it was needful they would let you off for a time.  Now as I can fix the thing with the doctor, there’s no reason you shouldn’t quit work and stop with us.”

Agatha colored angrily.  George meant well, but he had gone too far.  She felt this worse because she was tempted to give way.  She liked her brother’s wife and needed a rest.

“Well,” she said, “I suppose I ought to have expected something of the kind, but it’s comforting to feel that your efforts are wasted.  I shall be quite well in a week or two and am going back to school.  For one thing, I shall need some money before very long.”