A STRANGE SYMPOSIUM It came upon me with something of a shock of surprise to find the scrap of paper still tacked to the oak of Thorndyke's chambers.

So much had happened since I had last looked on it that it seemed to belong to another epoch of my life.

I removed it thoughtfully and picked out the tack before entering, and then, closing the inner door, but leaving the oak open, I lit the gas and fell to pacing the room.
What a wonderful episode it had been! How the whole aspect of the world had been changed in a moment by Thorndyke's revelation! At another time, curiosity would have led me to endeavour to trace back the train of reasoning by which the subtle brain of my teacher had attained this astonishing conclusion.

But now my own happiness held exclusive possession of my thoughts.

The image of Ruth filled the field of my mental vision.