When she met him she was quite calm, tranquil and clear-eyed. Do the
ripples of the summer sea recall that distant line, the supreme effort
of wind and tide some stormy night? Percival would have thought that it
had been all a dream but for the little coin which that wave had flung
at his feet for a remembrance. And he had called after her "Judith!" The
tide had ebbed, and he did not even think of her as other than Miss
Lisle. Had she heard him that evening? He would almost have hoped not,
but that twilight moment seemed so far away that it must be absurd to
link it with his every-day life.

Apparently, she and Bertie were on their usual footing. Did the young
fellow know of that absurd mistake about old Fordham? Did Percival
really detect a shade of dim apprehension on Judith Lisle's face, as if
she hid an unspoken fear? As Bertie leant forward and the lamplight
shone on his clearly-cut features, Percival was more than ever certain
of the change in him. Could his sister fail to see it?

"Bertie," she said when they had finished their tea and were standing
round the fire--"Bertie, I'm afraid you have lost one of your pupils."

He had his elbow on the chimney-piece, his hand hung loosely open, and
his eyes were fixed upon the leaping flames. When Judith spoke he looked
up inquiringly.

"Miss Nash--Emmeline Nash," said Judith.

Percival happened to be looking at the fire too, and he suddenly saw
Bertie's fingers drawn quickly up. But the young master spoke very
composedly indeed: "Emmeline Nash--why? Has anything happened?"

"No: only Mr. Nash has given in at last, and says she may go home at
Easter for good.--She is older than any of the other pupils, Mr. Thorne:
in fact, she is not treated as a pupil. But her father is--"

"An old fossil," said Bertie.

"Well!--interested in fossils and that sort of thing, and a widower; so
there has not been much of a home for her, and he always fancied she was
better at school. But school can't last for ever."

"Happiest time of one's life!" Bertie ejaculated.

"Oh! do you think so?" said Judith doubtfully.

"Not at all. But I believe it is the right thing to say."

"Stupid boy!--And as she will very soon be twenty, I really think she
ought not to be kept there any longer."

"Of course Miss Nash is delighted," said Percival.

"Yes, but hardly as much so as I expected. One's castles in the air
don't look quite the same when one is close to them. I am afraid, her
home-