'

And at that moment there sounded, even above the monotonous roar of
the water beyond the window--there fell the sound of a light footfall
approaching along the corridor.

'Listen,' said Herbert; 'here's my sister coming; we'll ask her.'

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The door opened. Lawford rose, and into the further rays of the
candlelight entered a rather slim figure in a light summer gown.

'Just home?' said Herbert.

'We've been for a walk--'

'My sister always forgets everything,' said Herbert, turning to Lawford;
'even tea-time. This is Mr Lawford, Grisel. We've been arguing no end.
And we want you to give a decision. It's just this: Supposing if by some
impossible trick you had come in now, not the charming familiar sister
you are, but shorter, fatter, fair and round-faced, quite different,
physically, you know--what would you do?'

'What nonsense you talk, Herbert!'

'Yes, but supposing: a complete transmogrification--by some unimaginable
ingression or enchantment, by nibbling a bunch of roses, or whatever you
like to call it?'

'Only physically?'

'Well, yes, actually; but potentially, why--that's another matter.'

The dark eyes passed slowly from her brother's face and rested gravely
on their visitor's.

'Is he making fun of me?'

Lawford almost imperceptibly shook his head.

'But what a question! And I've had no tea.' She drew her gloves slowly
through her hand. 'The thing, of course, isn't possible, I know. But
shouldn't I go mad, don't you think?'

Lawford gazed quietly back into the clear, grave, deliberate eyes.
'Suppose, suppose, just for the sake of argument--NOT,' he suggested.

She turned her head and reflected, glancing from one to the other of the
pure, steady candle-flames.

'And what was your answer?' she said, looking over her shoulder at her
brother.

'My dear child, you know what my answers are like!'

'And yours?'

Lawford took a deep breath, gazing mutely, forlornly, into the lovely
untroubled peace of her eyes, and without the least warning tears swept
up into his own. With an immense effort he turned, and choking back
every sound, beating hack every thought, groped his way towards the
square black darkness of the open door.

'I must think, I must think,' he managed to whisper, lifting his hand
and steadying himself. He caught over his shoulder the glimpse of a
curiously distorted vision, a lifted candle, and a still face gazing
after him with infinitely grieved e