with that rare felicity which salutes the
inevitable hours of a human life.

"Mother," said Michael, "would you mind if I stayed the night over at
Richmond?"

"To-night?" Mrs. Fane echoed in astonishment.

"Well, perhaps not to-night," conceded Michael unwillingly. "But
to-morrow night?"

"To-morrow night by all means," Mrs. Fane agreed.

"Nothing has happened?" she asked anxiously. "You seem so flushed and
strange."

"I'm just the same as usual," Michael declared. "It's hot in this room.
I think I'll take a short walk."

"But you've been out all the afternoon," Mrs. Fane protested.

"Oh, well, I've nothing to do at home."

"You're not feverish?"

"No, no, mother," Michael affirmed, disengaging his parched hand from
her solicitous touch. "But you know I often feel restless."

She released him, tenderly smiling; and for one moment he nearly threw
himself down beside her, covetous of childhood's petting. But the
impulse spent itself before he acted upon it, and soon he was wandering
towards Trelawny Road. How empty the corner of it looked, how stark and
melancholy soared the grey houses guarding its consecrated entrance, how
solitary shone the lamp-posts, and how sadly echoed the footsteps of
people going home. Yet only three hours ago they had met on this very
flagstone that must almost have palpitated to the pressure of her shoes.

Michael walked on until he stood opposite her house. There was a light
in the bay-window by the front door; perhaps she would come out to post
a letter. O breathless thought! Surely he heard the sound of a turning
handle. Ah, why had he not begged her to draw aside the blind at a fixed
time that he could be cured of his longing by the vision of her darling
form against the pane? How bitter was the irony of her sitting behind
that brooding window-pane, unconscious of him. Two days must crawl past
before she would meet him again, before he would touch her hand, look
actually into her eyes, watch every quiver and curve of her mouth.
Places would be enriched with the sight of her, while he ached with the
torment of love. School must drag through ten intolerable hours; he must
chatter with people unaware of her; and she must live two days apart
from his life, two days whose irresponsible minutes and loveless
occupations made him burn with jealousy of time itself.

Suddenly the door of Lily's house opened, and Michael felt the blood
course through his body, flooding his heart, sway