iv." I felt vastly easier in my mind when this polite letter was at an end, and when I saw the faithful Dicky depart to execute his brotherly mission.

My one fear was lest the strawberry ice should get warm before it reached its destination.
I waited in vain for any sign of response from Tempest.

The Philosophers went down during the afternoon to watch him training for his race; but he vouchsafed us no regard, and, for all I knew, still put me down as a thief and a sharper.

Dicky, whom I met later on, explained that he had failed to catch Tempest in his study, but had deposited the articles along with the letter on his table, so that, if he did not know of them yet, he soon would.
My anxiety was not at all allayed by a casual encounter with Crofter in the evening.

He summoned me into his study, where I saw my _billet- doux_ lying on the table.
"I suppose you wrote this ?" said he.
"Yes." "And you think everything's clear now, do you ?" "Isn't it ?" said I.
"I dare say Dr England will be able to tell you.