rsons. I do not think, with
one exception, we are more so than our neighbours; but, as the law now
stands, we are prohibited. Whether it will ever be different I cannot
say. That is enough, however, about myself. Let us talk of something
else."

She had seated herself in a low chair opposite him, with her elbows on
her knees and her chin resting on her hand. Browne glanced at her, and
remembered that he had once carried her in his arms for upwards of a
mile. At this thought such a thrill went through him that his teacup,
which he had placed on a table beside him, trembled in its saucer.
Unable to trust himself any further in that direction, he talked of
London, of the weather, of anything that occurred to him; curiously
enough, however, he did not mention his proposed departure for the
Mediterranean on the morrow. In his heart he had an uneasy feeling
that he had no right to be where he was. But when he thought of the
foggy street outside, and realised how comfortable this room was, with
its easy chairs, its polished floor, on which the firelight danced and
played, to say nothing of the girl seated opposite him, he could not
summon up sufficient courage to say good-bye.

"How strange it seems," she said at last--"does it not?--that you and I
should be sitting here like this! I had no idea, when we bade each
other good-bye in Norway, that we should ever meet again."

"I felt certain of it," Browne replied, but he failed to add why he was
so sure. "Is it settled how long you remain in England?"

"I do not think so," she answered. "We may be here some weeks; we may
be only a few days. It all depends upon Madame Bernstein."

"Upon Madame Bernstein?" he said, with some surprise.

"Yes," she answered; "she makes our arrangements. You have no idea how
busy she is."

Browne certainly had no idea upon that point, and up to that moment he
was not sure that he was at all interested; now, however, since it
appeared that madame controlled the girl's movements, she became a
matter of overwhelming importance to him.

For more than an hour they continued to chat; then Browne rose to bid
her good-bye.

"Would you think me intrusive if I were to call upon you again?" he
asked as he took her hand.

"Do so by all means, if you like," she answered, with charming
frankness. "I shall be very glad to see you."

Then an idea occurred to him--an idea so magnificent, so delightful,
that it almost took his breath away.