iew
with him; that her attitude toward him was changed. It was this same
something that hampered the desire with which he had come, or at least
converted all his imagined freedom of speech about it to a final hush of
wonder. No, certainly, he couldn't clasp her to his arms now, any more
than some antique worshipper could have clasped the marble statue in his
temple. But Longmore's statue spoke at last with a full human voice and
even with a shade of human hesitation. She looked up, and it seemed to
him her eyes shone through the dusk.

"I'm very glad you came this evening--and I've a particular reason
for being glad. I half-expected you, and yet I thought it possible you
mightn't come."

"As the case has been present to me," Longmore answered, "it was
impossible I shouldn't come. I've spent every minute of the day in
thinking of you."

She made no immediate reply, but continued to open and close her fan
thoughtfully. At last, "I've something important to say to you," she
resumed with decision. "I want you to know to a certainty that I've
a very high opinion of you." Longmore gave an uneasy shift to his
position. To what was she coming? But he said nothing, and she went on:
"I take a great interest in you. There's no reason why I shouldn't
say it. I feel a great friendship for you." He began to laugh, all
awkwardly--he hardly knew why, unless because this seemed the very irony
of detachment. But she went on in her way: "You know, I suppose, that a
great disappointment always implies a great confidence--a great hope."

"I've certainly hoped," he said, "hoped strongly; but doubtless never
rationally enough to have a right to bemoan my disappointment."

There was something troubled in her face that seemed all the while to
burn clearer. "You do yourself injustice. I've such confidence in your
fairness of mind that I should be greatly disappointed if I were to find
it wanting."

"I really almost believe you're amusing yourself at my expense," the
young man cried. "My fairness of mind? Of all the question-begging
terms!" he laughed. "The only thing for one's mind to be fair to is the
thing one FEELS!"

She rose to her feet and looked at him hard. His eyes by this time were
accustomed to the imperfect light, and he could see that if she was
urgent she was yet beseechingly kind. She shook her head impatiently and
came near enough to lay her fan on his arm with a strong pressure. "If
that were so it would be a weary worl