is words, "you surely don't
wish me to expel you. You don't intend to stand there all night. I can't
have it. I don't allow people in my study. I am sorry to be discourteous
to a lady, but I state a fact; you must go immediately. You don't realize
what it is to have a brain like mine, nor to have undertaken such a
herculean task. Ah! the beautiful thought which meant so much has
vanished. Madam, you are responsible."

"Stop!" interrupted Miss Tredgold. "I will go the moment you do what I
want."

"Will you? I'll do anything--anything that keeps you out of this room."

"That is precisely what I require. I don't wish to come into this
room--that is, for the present. By-and-by it must be cleaned, for I
decline to live in a dirty house; but I give you a fortnight's grace."

"And the rendering of the passage is beyond doubt, according to
Clericus---- I beg your pardon; are you still speaking?"

"Yes, Henry. I am annoying you, I know; and, all things considered, I am
glad, for you need rousing. I intend to sit or stand in this room, close
to you, until morning if necessary. Ah! here is a chair."

As Miss Tredgold spoke she drew forward an unwieldy arm-chair, which was
piled up with books and papers. These she was calmly about to remove,
when a shriek from the anguished scholar stopped her.

"Don't touch them," he exclaimed. "You destroy the work of months. If you
must have a chair, take mine."

Miss Tredgold did take it. She now found herself seated within a few
yards of the scholar's desk. The bright light from the lamp fell on her
face; it looked pale, calm, and determined. Mr. Dale was in shadow; the
agony on his face was therefore not perceptible.

"Take anything you want; only go, woman," he said.

"Henry, you are a difficult person to deal with, and I am sorry to have
to speak to you as I do. I am sorry to have to take, as it were,
advantage of you; but I intend to stay in this house."

"You are not wanted, Sophia."

"I am not wished for, Henry; but as to being wanted, no woman was ever
more wanted."

"That you are not."

"I say I am; and, what is more, I intend to remain. We need not discuss
this point, for it is settled. I take up my sojourn in this house for
three months."

"Three months!" said Mr. Dale. "Oh, my word! And this is only June. From
June to July, from July to August, from August to September! It is very
cruel of you, Sophia. I did not think my poor wife's sister would torture
me like th