r a moment. And again the
captive on the sofa found himself disliking intensely the glance of the
old man's pale blue eyes. He was glad to see that they fell before the
grey eyes of the girl.

"Well, well!" murmured Dr. Farr vaguely, looking away. "It doesn't
matter. It doesn't matter. Tut, tut, a trifle!"

"I don't think so," said she. And abruptly she went out after the child.

"Fanciful, very fanciful," murmured the old man, looking after her.
"And stubborn, very stubborn. A bad fault in one so young. But,"
beaming benevolently upon his guest, "we must not trouble you with our
small domestic discords. You are much better, I see, much better. That
is good."

"Getting along very nicely, thanks," said Spence. "I was able to change
position this morning without assistance."

"Only that?" The doctor's disappointment was patent. "Come, we should
progress better than that. If you will allow me to prescribe--"

"Thank you--no. I feel quite satisfied with the treatment prescribed by
old Bones--I mean by my friend, Dr. Rogers. He understands the case
thoroughly. One must be patient."

"Quite so, quite so." The curiously blurred face of the doctor seemed
for a moment to take on sharper lines. Spence had observed it do this
before under stress of feeling. But as the exact feeling which caused
the change was usually obscure, it seemed safest to ignore it
altogether. He was growing quite expert at ignoring things. For, quite
contrary to the usual trend of his character, he was reacting to the
urge of a growing desire to stay where he wasn't wanted. He didn't
reason about it. He did not even admit it. But it moved in his mind.

"I'm not fretting at all about being tied up here," he went on
cheerfully. "I find the air quite stimulating. I believe I could work
here. In fact, I have some notes with me which I may elaborate. I fancy
that, as you said in your letters, Miss Farr will prove a most capable
secretary. I am going to ask her to help me."

"Are you indeed?" The doctor's tone was polite but absent.

"You do not object, I hope?"

"Object--why should I object? But Desire is busy, very busy. I doubt if
her duties will spare her. I doubt it very much."

"Naturally, I should wish to offer her ample remuneration."

Again the loose lines of the strange old face seemed to sharpen. There
was a growing eagerness in the pale eyes ... but it died.

"Even in that case," said Dr. Farr regretfully, "I fear it will be
impossib