How could this strange being at her elbow be still deaf and blind to it! * * * * * They parted in the hall.
'Shall I expect you at six ?' said the Squire formally.

'I have some geographical notes I should like you to take down.' She assented.

He went to his study, and shut himself in.

For a long time he paced up and down, flinging himself finally into a chair in front of Desmond's portrait.

There his thoughts took shape.
'Well, my boy, I thought I'd won some trenches--but the counter-attack has swept me out.