"Am I doing it well ?" he quietly asked of Constance, somewhere about ten o'clock, and on receiving the reply, "Very well," he gave his friend a more benignant smile than he had bestowed upon her since the old days of semi-sentimental intimacy.

He would much have liked to talk over the evening with her before he went to bed; as that was impossible, he pressed her hand very warmly at leave-taking, looking her steadily in the eyes, and said in a low voice.
"To-morrow." He was greatly satisfied with himself, and, in consequence, felt overflowing with kindliness towards all the sons and daughters of men.
One by one he reviewed the persons with whom he had conversed.

How pleasant they were! How sensible and well-meaning! What excellent material for the formation of a really civilised State?
They had evidently been impressed with him, and, on going home, would make him the subject of their talk.

To-morrow his name would sound frequently in several houses, always with complimentary adjunct.

The thought made his pulses throb.