as done you up. Now, you must take a good, long
rest and recover from your vacation."

He smiled grimly.

"A man never needs a rest so much as he does at the end of his vacation,
eh, mother? Well, work will be restful. I shall go to the office this
morning and do three days' work before night. That will prove to you
that I am perfectly well."

He made a pretence of reading the morning paper. There was nothing to
interest him on' those cold, commonplace pages, not one thing--but
wait! A thought struck him suddenly, and for ten minutes he searched the
columns assiduously, even nervously. Then he threw down the paper with a
sigh of relief.

There was nothing to indicate that her train had been wrecked. She had
undoubtedly reached New York in safety. He looked at his watch. She was
probably enjoying her breakfast at that very moment. Perhaps she was
thinking of him and--perhaps not. The memory of that last tender hand
clasp and the soft glow in her eyes stood like a wall between the fear
that she had forgotten and the certainty that she remembered. Had not
this memory kept him awake? That and the final, mysterious emotion which
had shown itself in her face as he had last looked upon it? A thousand
times had he pondered over that startled look and the signs of
agitation. Was it fear? Was it dismay? Was it renunciation? Whatever
it was, it sorely disturbed him; it had partly undone the charm of the
moment before--the charm that could not and would not be gainsaid.

True to his intention, he went to the office early, virtuously inclined
to work. His uncle greeted him warmly and a long conference over
business affairs followed. To Lorry's annoyance and discomfiture he
found himself frequently inattentive. Several important cases were
pending, and in a day or two they were to go into court with a damage
suit of more than ordinary consequence. Lorry, senior, could not repress
his gratification over the return of his clever, active nephew at such
an opportune time. He had felt himself unable to handle the case alone;
the endurance of a young and vigorous mind was required for the coming
battle in chancery.

They lunched together, the elder eager and confidential, the other
respectful and--absent-minded. In the afternoon the junior went over the
case, and renewed search for authorities and opinions, fully determined
to be constant in spite of his inclination to be fickle. Late in the
day he petulantly threw aside the books,