e return of Mr. Daniels accompanied by Mr. Barry can
accomplish, is, I confess, beyond my computation. Yet you are happier in
the prospect of Mr. Barry's return?'

"I asked this question with a falling heart, though I remain ignorant of
the cause to which I can attribute my sudden depression. Still more
mysterious was the delight which I felt when the girl shook her head
slowly and answered: 'Even if he comes, it will mean nothing.'

"I said: 'Then let us intercept him and send him back!'

"She cried out, as if I had hurt her: 'No, no, no!' and twisted her
fingers together in pain. She added at once: 'What of poor Dad?'

"'Your father,' I confessed, 'had for the moment slipped my mind.'

"It seemed to me, however, that it was not wholly on her father's
account that she was grieved. She wished Mr. Barry to return, and yet
she dreaded his coming. It was most mysterious. However, I had started
Miss Cumberland thinking. She stopped eating and began to stare before
her. Presently she said: 'It is strange that we don't hear from Buck.
What can have held him so long?'

"I regretted extremely that I had introduced the topic and cast about in
my mind for another, but could not find one. I then expressed regret
that I had revived her worries, but received in reply a smile in which
there was no life: the very colour had died out from her cheeks. And she
sat during the rest of the meal without speaking a word.

"Afterwards I went in with her to see Mr. Cumberland. His condition was
not materially changed. The marvel of it grows upon me more and more. It
is a freak which defies medical science. There lies a man at the point
of dissolution. His body has died of old age, and yet the life principle
remains. He does not eat--at least, the nourishment he takes is wholely
negligible. But he still has energy. To be sure, he rarely moves about
and his body remains practically inert. But we must never forget that
the mind is a muscle and calls for continual rebuilding. And the mind
of Mr. Cumberland is never inactive. It works ceaselessly. It will not
permit him to sleep. For three days, now, as far as I can tell, he has
not closed his eyes. It might be assumed that he is in a state of
trance, but by a series of careful experiments, I have ascertained that
he is constantly thinking in the most vigourous fashion.

"What does it mean? There is in the man a flame-like quality; something
is burning in him every instant. But on what does t