But I half expected you to congratulate me.

I know she wrote to you this morning--you were one of the first." "I shall probably find the letter," said Lorne mechanically, "when I go home." He still eyed Hesketh narrowly, as if he had somewhere concealed about him the explanation of this final bitter circumstance.

He had a desire not to leave him, to stand and parley--to go upstairs to the office would be to plunge into the gulf.

He held back from that and leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms and looking over into the market-place for subjects to postpone Hesketh's departure.

They talked of various matters in sight, Hesketh showing the zest of his newly determined citizenship in every observation--the extension of the electric tramway, the pulling down of the old Fire Hall.