They looked upon each other with fallen jaws and complete stupefaction.

The old man began to grow pale, and Parker glared about him with a wild eye.

Fortunately, the editor was too busy at her work to notice their agitation; she applied herself to making alterations here and there, sometimes frowningly crossing out whole lines and even paragraphs, sometimes smiling and beaming at the writing; and, as she bent earnestly over the paper, against the darkness of the rainy day, the glamour about her fair hair was like a light in the room.

To the minds of her two companions, this lustre was a gentle but unbearable accusation; and each dreaded the moment when her Work should be finished, with a great dread.

There was a small "store-room" adjoining the office, and presently Mr.Parker, sweating at the brow, walked in there.