a shadow across the floor. The
professor, with folded arms, sat alert and expectant. Burton, pale and
shrunken with the labors of the last ten days, looked out of his burning
eyes at the girl. For a single moment she had raised her head, had met
his fierce inquiry with a certain wistful pathos, puzzling, an
incomplete sentiment. Now she, too, was sitting as though in an
attitude of waiting. Burton felt his heart suddenly leap. What might
lie beyond the wall was of no account. He was a man with only a few
brief months to live, as he had come to understand life. He would
follow the eternal philosophy. He would do as the others and make the
best of them.

"It is very kind of you," he said. "I am not prepared to make a
visit,--I mean my clothes, and that sort of thing,--but if you will take
me as I am, I will come with pleasure."

Mr. Cowper's face showed the liveliest satisfaction. Edith, on the
other hand, never turned her head, although she felt Burton's eyes upon
her.

"Capital!" the professor declared. "Now do not think that we are trying
to abduct you, but there is a motor-car outside. We are going to take
you straight home. You can have a little recreation this beautiful
afternoon--a walk on the moors, or some tennis with Edith here. We will
try and give you a pleasant time. You must collect your work now and
go and put your things together. We are not in the least hurry. We
will wait."

Burton rose a little unsteadily to his feet. He was weary with much
labor, carried a little away by this wonderful prospect of living in the
same house, of having her by his side continually. It was too amazing
to realize. His heart gave a great leap as she moved towards him and
looked a little shyly into his face.

"May I not help you to pick up these sheets? I see that you have
numbered them all. I will keep them in their proper order. Perhaps you
could trust me to do that while you went and packed your bag?"

"Quite right, my dear--quite right," the professor remarked,
approvingly. "You will find my daughter most careful in such matters,
Mr. Burton. She is used to being associated with work of importance."

"You are very kind," Burton murmured. "If you will excuse me, then, for
a few moments?"

"By all means," the professor declared. "And pray suit yourself
entirely, Mr. Burton, as to the clothes you bring and the preparations
you make for your visit. If you prefer not to change for the evening, I
will do the same. I am