But it is not likely to happen--for a while." "How long ?" "I don't know." She drew a tremulous breath of relief, looking up into his face.

Then her eyes narrowed; she thought a moment, and her gaze became preoccupied and remote, and her lips grew firm with the train of thought she was pursuing.
He put his arms around her and kissed her again; and she felt the boyish appeal in it and her lip quivered.

But she could not respond, could not consider for one moment, could not permit her sympathy for him to enlist her against what she was devoutly convinced were his own most vital interests--his honour, his happiness, the success of his future career.
She said with tears in her eyes: "Louis, I love you dearly.

If God will grant us all a little patience and a little wisdom there will be a way made clear to all of us.

Good-bye." [Illustration: "'Your--profession--must be an exceedingly interesting one,' said Lily."] Whether it was that the Almighty did not grant Mrs.Collis the patience to wait until a way was made clear, or whether another letter from her father decided her to clear that way for herself, is uncertain; but one day in March Valerie received a letter from Mrs.Collis; and answered it; and the next morning she shortened a seance with Querida, exchanged her costume for her street-clothes, and hastened to her apartments, where Mrs.Collis was already awaiting her in the little sitting-room.
Valerie offered her hand and stood looking at Lily Collis, as though searching for some resemblance to her brother in the pretty, slightly flushed features.