e
people must want looking after. I believe you would like it all--I
really believe you would! And think, ah, just think what it would be
to me, to see my own splendid wife, queen over everything in my dear
jolly old home! Hullo!--Hark to all the clocks! What is that
striking? Seven? Oh, I say! I'm dining with the Master to-night. I
must rush off, and change. Though I was such a bad lot, they all seem
quite pleased to see me again. Really they do! Have I stayed too
long? ... Sure? ... May I come to-morrow? ... You _are_ most awfully
good to me. Good-bye."

And the Boy was gone. He had held her hand, in a firm, strong clasp, a
second longer than the conventional handshake; his clear eyes, exactly
on a level with hers, had looked at her gravely, wistfully, tenderly;
and he was gone.

She walked slowly up the lawn. She must write a few letters before
post time; then dress for her solitary dinner.

She felt a little flat; quite without cause. What could have been more
satisfactory, in every way, than the Boy's visit; in spite of his
absurd castles in the air? These must be tactfully demolished
to-morrow. To-day, it was wisest just to let him talk.

Poor Little Boy Blue! Instead of the walls of Jericho falling, his own
castles in the air would come tumbling about his ears. Poor Little Boy
Blue!

She felt she had been completely mistress of the situation to-day,
holding it exactly as she wished it to be. There was no need to fear
the remaining days.

And when the seven days were over--what then? ... She certainly felt
very flat this evening. How suddenly the Boy had gone! There was
still so much she wanted to say to him.... And to-morrow was the
Professor's afternoon. Mercifully, he never stayed later than four
o'clock. It was to be hoped the Boy would not turn up early! But
there was never any knowing what the Boy would do.

She smiled as she mounted the flight of stone steps, and passed into
the house.

* * * * *

And, outside the postern gate, the Boy threw up his cap, and caught it;
then started off and sprinted a hundred yards; then, turning aside,
leapt a five-barred gate, and made off across the fields. When he
pulled up at last, in his own bedroom, he had just time to tub, shave,
and wrestle with his evening clothes. He communed with himself in the
few moments of enforced stillness, while he mastered his tie.

"That was all right," he said. "I jolly