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110 for him. I know it must sound disloyal to speak so of one's own brother; but he doesn't care for anyone. His only pleasure is to torment and wound others. Last night father threatened again to have him put away in a sanitarium; and I wish he would. Aunt Effie is the only one who has opposed that."

"Miss Meade is very much attached to him?"

"Well, I suppose she ought to be." Cissie shrugged. "It is her fault that he is a cripple."

"Miss Meade's fault?" Odell asked casually.

"Yes." There was a little vindictive gleam in her round blue eyes. "She dropped him when he was a baby, and he became hunchbacked. She has simply idolized him ever since—remorse, I imagine—and spoiled him dreadfully. None of the rest of us have ever counted with her; and she'd go through fire and water for him."

"Why did your stepfather suggest placing him in a sanitarium? Is his mind affected?" Odell's tone was still casual, and his eyes appeared to be fastened upon the paperweight which he was balancing between his fingers, but in reality he was watching each changing expression of the girl's face.

"No; I would scarcely say that." She smiled scornfully. "He is quite the most brilliant member of the family, but his cleverness is all warped, somehow. Father meant a sanitarium for cripples out in the country; for Rannie is really an invalid, you know. He spends most of his time in bed, with Aunt Effie nursing him and submitting to his abuse. After last night's scene when he mocked us all I—I felt as if my nerves just wouldn't stand any more."

"You were saying much the same thing to your aunt in