He bent over the picture, but it was not the picture which he saw.

He saw the girl herself, and even with the half-formed thought he saw her expression change.

He saw her eyes lit with sorrow and appeal--he saw her arms outstretched towards him--he seemed even to hear her soft cry.

He knew then what his answer would be to his friend's prayer.

He thought no more of the excuses which he had been building in his mind; of all the practical suggestions which he had been prepared to make.