ir."

"Nor I."

A pause fell between them and Walter rose to go.

"Do you suppose you will hear anything more to-night?" questioned he
shyly.

"There is no telling. We may have news at any moment; or again we may
hear nothing until into the night or till morning."

"I'm crazy to get tidings, aren't you?" In his earnestness the lad had
forgotten that they were not of an age or quite of the same station.

The master smiled indulgently.

"I'm every bit as crazy to hear as you are," said he, quite as if Lola
were their joint possession.

"Do you think you'll get any message before I go to bed?"

Once more Mr. Crowninshield regarded him with friendly comradeship.

"That depends on what time you turn in."

"At home Ma makes me go at nine o'clock. I've done it pretty much,
too, since I've been here. She wanted I should."

"You are a sensible fellow. Nine o'clock is late enough for anybody to
sit up, although I will admit," the man chuckled mischievously, "that
in New York we occasionally sit up later than that."

But Walter ignored the jest.

"Do you think you will hear by nine?" persisted he.

"There is no way of knowing, sonny," was the kind answer. "The best
thing for you to do, however, is to go to bed as you usually do. You
are tired out with excitement. I can see that."

"No I'm not," contradicted the boy, his eyes very wide open.

"But you are--a deal more fagged than you realize. I am myself. Now
I'll tell you what we'll do. I'll go to bed and you go to bed; and if
any message comes I'll tell them to waken me and then I'll waken you.
I can call you on the wire that goes from the house down to your
quarters. How will that do?"

"But suppose I shouldn't hear it?" objected the lad.

"Somebody will. The chauffeurs do not go to sleep as early as you do,
I rather fancy. I will give orders for one of them to tell you if a
call comes."

"I'd much prefer to sit up, sir. Why couldn't I just sit here on the
piazza? It wouldn't disturb anybody and I should be on the spot."

"You might sit here all night and catch your death of cold, and no
tidings come until morning, sonny. No, my plan is much the better one.
You trot along to bed. I'll fulfill my part of the contract and go
also. And if there is anything to tell before morning you shall hear
it."

Reluctantly the lad moved away.

He was not in the least sleepy. Nevertheless because he had given his
word he dragged himself across the lawn, mounted the