His reasoned-out resistances seemed for the moment so much less important than the question as to when Lily would receive his note! He yielded himself to the charm of trivial preoccupations, wondering at what hour her reply would be sent, with what words it would begin.

As to its import he had no doubt--he was as sure of her surrender as of his own.

And so he had leisure to muse on all its exquisite details, as a hard worker, on a holiday morning, might lie still and watch the beam of light travel gradually across his room.

But if the new light dazzled, it did not blind him.

He could still discern the outline of facts, though his own relation to them had changed.