th quantities of oddly shaped bits of pictured
wood--a jumble of confusion.

"It's a jig-saw puzzle, David. All these little pieces fitted together
make a picture, you see. I tried last night and I could n't do it. I
brought it down to see if you could."

"Oh, thank you! I'd love to," rejoiced the boy. And in the fascination
of the marvel of finding one fantastic bit that fitted another, David
apparently forgot all about Mr. Jack--which seemed not unpleasing to
his Lady of the Roses.

It was not until nearly a week later that David had his wish of seeing
his Mr. Jack and his Lady of the Roses meet at his bedside. It was the
day Miss Holbrook brought to him the wonderful set of handsomely bound
"Waverley Novels." He was still glorying in his new possession, in
fact, when Mr. Jack appeared suddenly in the doorway.

"Hullo my boy, I just--Oh, I beg your pardon. I supposed you
were--alone," he stammered, looking very red indeed.

"He is--that is, he will be, soon--except for you, Mr. Gurnsey," smiled
Miss Holbrook, very brightly. She was already on her feet.

"No, no, I beg of you," stammered Mr. Jack, growing still more red.
"Don't let me drive--that is, I mean, don't go, please. I didn't know.
I had no warning--I didn't see--Your carriage was not at the door
to-day."

Miss Holbrook's eyebrows rose the fraction of an inch.

"I sent it home. I am planning to walk back. I have several calls to
make on the way; and it's high time I was starting. Good-bye, David."

"But, Lady, of the Roses, please, please, don't go," besought David,
who had been looking from one to the other in worried dismay. "Why,
you've just come!"

But neither coaxing nor argument availed; and before David really knew
just what had happened, he found himself alone with Mr. Jack.

Even then disappointment was piled on disappointment, for Mr. Jack's
visit was not the unalloyed happiness it usually was. Mr. Jack himself
was almost cross at first, and then he was silent and restless, moving
jerkily about the room in a way that disturbed David very much.

Mr. Jack had brought with him a book; but even that only made matters
worse, for when he saw the beautifully bound volumes that Miss Holbrook
had just left, he frowned, and told David that he guessed he did not
need his gift at all, with all those other fine books. And David could
not seem to make him understand that the one book from him was just
exactly as dear as were the whole set of books th