ue evening sky into which one
may stare for an incalculable distance.

"As I have said, then, I noted a glow in these eyes, though they were so
immediately lowered that I could not be sure. I felt, however, an
extraordinary warmth beneath my collar, the suffusion of blood passing
swiftly towards my forehead. I inquired if she had smiled and for what
reason; whereat she immediately assured me that she had not, and smiled
while making the assurance.

"I was now possessed of an unusual agitation, augmented by the manner
in which Miss Cumberland looked at me out of twinkling but not unkindly
eyes. What could have caused this perturbation I leave to your
scientific keenness in analysis.

"I discovered an amazing desire to sing, which indecorous impulse I, of
course, immediately inhibited and transferred the energy into
conversation.

"'The weather,' said I. 'has been uncommonly delightful to-day.'

"I observed that Miss Cumberland greeted this sentence with another
smile.

"Presently she remarked: 'It has seemed a bit windy to me.'

"I recalled that it is polite to agree with ladies and instantly
subjoined with the greatest presence of mind: 'Quite right! A most
abominably stormy day!'

"At this I was astonished to be greeted by another burst of laughter,
even more pronounced than the others.

"'Doctor Byrne,' she said, 'you are absolutely unique.'

"'It is a point,' I said earnestly, 'which I shall immediately set about
to change.'

"At this she raised both hands in a gesture of protest, so that I could
observe her eyes shining behind the slender, brown fingers--observe,
Loughburne, that white skin is falsely considered a thing of beauty in
women--and she remarked, still laughing: 'Indeed, you must not change!'

"I replied with an adroit change of front: 'Certainly not.'

"For some mysterious reason the girl was again convulsed and broke off
her laughter to cry in a voice of music which still tingles through me:
'Doctor Byrne, you are delightful!'

"I should gladly have heard her say more upon this point, but it being
one which I could not gracefully dispute with her, and being unwilling
that she should lapse into one of her usual silences, I ventured to
change the subject from myself to her.

"'Miss Cumberland,' I said, 'I remark with much pleasure that the
anxiety which has recently depressed you seems now in some measure
lessened. I presume Mr. Daniels will be successful in his journey,
though what th