have brightened in the interval. "I have
ordered a fire, sir, in the reserved room, the one fitted up from Los
Osos, as your study has had no chance of being cleaned these two weeks.
It will be a change for you, sir. I hope you'll excuse my not waking you
to consult you about it."

Rushbrook remained so silent that James, fancying he had not heard him,
was about to repeat himself when his master said quickly, "Very well,
come for me there when dinner is ready," and entered the passage leading
to the room. James did not follow him, and when Mr. Rushbrook, opening
the door, started back with an exclamation, no one but the inmate heard
the word that rose to his lips.

For there, seated before the glow of the blazing fire, was Miss Grace
Nevil. She had evidently just arrived, for her mantle was barely
loosened around her neck, and upon the fringe of brown hair between her
bonnet and her broad, low forehead a few drops of rain still sparkled.
As she lifted her long lashes quickly towards the door, it seemed as
if they, too, had caught a little of that moisture. Rushbrook moved
impatiently forward, and then stopped. Grace rose unhesitatingly to her
feet, and met him half-way with frankly outstretched hands. "First of
all," she said, with a half nervous laugh, "don't scold James; it's all
my fault; I forbade him to announce me, lest you should drive me away,
for I heard that during this excitement you came here for rest, and saw
no one. Even the intrusion into this room is all my own. I confess now
that I saw it the last night I was here; I was anxious to know if it was
unchanged, and made James bring me here. I did not understand it then. I
do now--and--thank you."

Her face must have shown that she was conscious that he was still
holding her hand, for he suddenly released it. With a heightened color
and a half girlish naivete, that was the more charming for its contrast
with her tall figure and air of thoroughbred repose, she turned back to
her chair, and lightly motioned him to take the one before her. "I am
here on BUSINESS; otherwise I should not have dared to look in upon you
at all."

She stopped, drew off her gloves with a provoking deliberation, which
was none the less fascinating that it implied a demure consciousness of
inducing some impatience in the breast of her companion, stretched them
out carefully by the fingers, laid them down neatly on the table,
placed her elbows on her knees, slightly clasped her hand