, with such a start, he would soon have as much work as he
could undertake.

He was ashamed of himself for ever having lost heart. What were the last
few years of weary waiting but probation and preparation for this
splendid chance, which had come just when he really needed it, and in
the most simple and natural manner?

He loyally completed the work he had promised to do for Beevor, who
would have to dispense with his assistance in future, and then he felt
too excited and restless to stay in the office, and, after lunching at
his club as usual, he promised himself the pleasure of going to
Cottesmore Gardens and telling Sylvia his good news.

It was still early, and he walked the whole way, as some vent for his
high spirits, enjoying everything with a new zest--the dappled grey and
salmon sky before him, the amber, russet, and yellow of the scanty
foliage in Kensington Gardens, the pungent scent of fallen chestnuts and
acorns and burning leaves, the blue-grey mist stealing between the
distant tree-trunks, and then the cheery bustle and brilliancy of the
High Street. Finally came the joy of finding Sylvia all alone, and
witnessing her frank delight at what he had come to tell her, of feeling
her hands on his shoulders, and holding her in his arms, as their lips
met for the first time. If on that Saturday afternoon there was a
happier man than Horace Ventimore, he would have done well to dissemble
his felicity, for fear of incurring the jealousy of the high gods.

When Mrs. Futvoye returned, as she did only too soon, to find her
daughter and Horace seated on the same sofa, she did not pretend to be
gratified. "This is taking a most unfair advantage of what I was weak
enough to say last night, Mr. Ventimore," she began. "I thought I could
have trusted you!"

"I shouldn't have come so soon," he said, "if my position were what it
was only yesterday. But it's changed since then, and I venture to hope
that even the Professor won't object now to our being regularly
engaged." And he told her of the sudden alteration in his prospects.

"Well," said Mrs. Futvoye, "you had better speak to my husband about
it."

The Professor came in shortly afterwards, and Horace immediately
requested a few minutes' conversation with him in the study, which was
readily granted.

The study to which the Professor led the way was built out at the back
of the house, and crowded with Oriental curios of every age and kind;
the furniture had bee