t the front door of the house. It stood wide open, as if the
current of guests passing out had removed its tendency to swing shut. It
seemed lonely now, inside, with all the decorations of the assembly
still in place in the empty hall. I passed into the library, and found
Jim sitting idly in a great leather chair. He seemed not to see me; or
if he did, he paid no attention. I went to the mantel, picked up Alice's
fan, and turned to Jim.

"Sit down," said he.

"Having a sort of 'oft in the stilly night' experience, Jim, or a case
of William the Conqueror on the Field of Hastings?"

"Yes," said he. "Something like that."

"Well, your house-warming has been a success, Jim," said I, "though a
fellow wouldn't think so to look at you. And the house is faultless. I
envy you the house, but the ability to plan and furnish it still more. I
didn't think it was in you, old man! Where did you learn it all?"

"You may have the house, if you want it, Al," said he. "I don't think
it's going to be of any use to me."

"Why, Jim," said I, seeing that it was something more than a mere mood
with him, "what is it? Has anything gone wrong?"

"Nothing that I've any right to complain of," said he. "Of course, no
man puts as much of his life into such a thing as I have into
this--without thinking of more than living in it--alone. I've never had
what you can really call a home--not since I was a little chap, when it
was home wherever there were trees and mother. I've filled this--with
those associations I spoke to Barr-Smith about--to-night--a little more
than I seem to have had any warrant to do. I tried to make sure about
the jewel for the jewel-case to-night, and it went wrong, Al; and that's
all there is of it. I don't think I shall need the house, and if you
like it you can have it."

"Do you mean that Josie has refused you?" said I.

"She didn't put it that way," said he, "but it amounts to that."

"Nothing that isn't a refusal," said I, "ought to be accepted as such.
What did she say?"

"Nothing definite," he answered wearily, "only that it couldn't be
'yes,' and when I urged her to make it 'yes' or 'no,' she refused to say
either; and asked me to forget that I had ever said anything to her
about the matter. There have been some things which--led me to hope--for
a different answer; and I'm a good deal taken down, Al ... I wouldn't
like to talk this way--with any one else."

There seemed to be no reason for abandonment of hope