name for him. He was not quite open,
either. In Dr. Luttrell's opinion he ought by this time to have
confided in them fully. "He is a bit shifty and hazy about things," he
said to himself, "and I shall be glad when Livy and I have the house to
ourselves."

"Ten days," repeated Olivia, thoughtfully; "is it so long as that,
Marcus? How time flies when one is busy! Do you know, dear, I have
such an odd feeling sometimes. I feel as though that poor fellow was
sent to us for some special purpose, that we had a sort of mission
towards him. It is not that I want him, for of course his being here
makes so much work for Martha, but all the same, I do not wish you to
lose sight of him."

"My dear child," returned Marcus, rather impatiently, "am I likely to
lose sight of him when I am at the Models at least three times a week?"

"No, but we can see him so much better under our own roof," she
replied, quietly. "We must not get tired of him too soon. Yes, you
are tired, dear," laying her hand affectionately on his. "Do you think
I do not know that, although you are so good about it, and never
grumble, but it will be trying to us both when he comes downstairs."

"Yes, and one hardly knows how to treat him," returned Marcus, feeling
it a relief to utter his thoughts. "He is clever and refined, and I
suppose we must allow that he is a gentleman, but it is impossible
somehow to trust him, or to feel at one's ease with him. There is
something that fascinates and yet repels one."

"I know what you mean," replied Olivia, thoughtfully, "but somehow I
like him in spite of everything; Marcus, what a blessing it is to think
that I went to Galvaston House this afternoon, and so I shall be free
to-morrow," for Olivia's sunny, nature always looked on the bright side
of things.

That night a wonderful thing happened. The night-bell rang.

That sound so dreaded by the hard-worked doctor was like a triumphal
_reveille_ in Marcus's ears. And Robert Barton's muttered "poor devil"
as he turned on his pillow would not have been endorsed.

Olivia indeed had been alarmed for a moment by the unaccustomed sound,
and thought drowsily that the house must be on fire, but she was soon
wide awake and hushing Dot.

"Go to sleep, girlie, it is only someone come to see dada," she said,
rocking her little one. Dot had been startled and was cross in
consequence, and it was sometime before she could be pacified.

The next minute Marcus came