reply had been--'Here
for a week on way north; come by all means.' Oh! that look of
Catherine's when he had told her of his plan, trying in vain to make it
look merely casual and ordinary.

'It is more than a year since I have set eyes on Grey, Catherine. And
the day's change would be a boon. I could stay the night at Merton, and
get home early next day.'

But as he turned a pleading look to her, he had been startled by the
sudden rigidity of face and form. Her silence had in it an intense,
almost a haughty, reproach, which she was too keenly hurt to put into
words.

He caught her by the arm, and drew her forcibly to him. There he made
her look into the eyes which were full of nothing but the most
passionate imploring affection.

'Have patience a little more, Catherine!' he just murmured. 'Oh, how I
have blessed you for silence! Only till I come back!'

'Till you come back,' she repeated slowly. 'I cannot bear it any longer,
Robert, that you should give others your confidence, and not me.'

He groaned and let her go. No--there should be but one day more of
silence, and that day was interposed for her sake. If Grey from his
calmer standpoint bade him wait and test himself, before taking any
irrevocable step, he would obey him. And if so, the worst pang of all
need not yet be inflicted on Catherine, though as to his state of mind
he would be perfectly open with her.

A few hours later his cab deposited him at the well-known door. It
seemed to him that he and the scorched plane-trees lining the sides of
the road were the only living things in the wide sun-beaten street.

Every house was shut up. Only the Greys' open windows, amid their
shuttered neighbours, had a friendly human air.

Yes; Mr. Grey was in, and expecting Mr. Elsmere. Robert climbed the dim
familiar staircase, his heart beating fast.

'Elsmere, this is a piece of good fortune!'

And the two men, after a grasp of the hand, stood fronting each other:
Mr. Grey, a light of pleasure on the rugged dark-complexioned face,
looking up at his taller and paler visitor.

But Robert could find nothing to say in return; and in an instant Mr.
Grey's quick eye detected the strained nervous emotion of the man before
him.

'Come and sit down, Elsmere--there, in the window, where we can talk.
One has to live on this east side of the house this weather.'

'In the first place,' said Mr. Grey, scrutinising him, as he returned to
his own book-littered corner of t