watching her.

"Oh, no!" he said. "I wanted him to help me lift the piano to another
part of the room. The sun comes right on to it now, and it's hot. I
tried by myself, but----" He stopped, as if he were ashamed of his
weakness. "You've no idea how heavy a piano can make itself, especially
on a hot day."

"He will be in directly, and delighted to help you. Meanwhile, help me
make the toast, and stop to tea with us."

"I'll help you with the toast," he said. "But I've had my tea, thanks."

It was a falsehood, for he had run out of tea two days before; but he
was proud as well as poor, which is a mistake.

"Oh, well, you can pretend to drink another cup," said Nell lightly; for
she knew that the truth was not in his statement.

He stuck a slice of bread on a toasting fork, but did not kneel down
before the fire for a moment or two.

"Your room faces the same way as mine," he said. "But it always seems
cooler." His dark eyes wandered round meditatively. Small as the room
was, it had that air of neatness which indicates the presence of a lady.
The tea cloth was white, the few ornaments and pictures--brought from
The Cottage--the small bookcase and wicker-work basket gave a touch of
refinement, which was wholly wanting in his own sparsely furnished and
always untidy den. "Coming in here is like--like coming into another
world. I feel sometimes as if I should like to suggest that you should
charge sixpence for admission. It would be worth that sum to most of the
people in the Buildings, as a lesson in the use and beauty of soap and
water and a duster."

Nell smiled.

"I think it is wonderful that they keep their rooms as clean as they do,
seeing that every time one opens the windows the blacks pour in----"

"Like Zulus into a zareba--if that's what they call it. Yes; no denizen
of the Buildings would feel strange in Africa, for, whatever the
weather may be, the blacks are always with us. Should you say that this
is done on this side?"

He held up the slice on the toasting fork for her inspection.

"Beautifully! Turn it, please."

"I hope to Heaven I shan't drop it! There you are! I knew I should."

"Well, you can keep that one for yourself," said Nell, laughing.

He listened to the laugh, with his head a little on one side.

"I like to hear that," he said, almost to himself, "though, sometimes, I
wonder how you can do it--you, who must always be longing for the fresh
air--for the country."

Nell winced.