self for having spoken. Hitherto in his
relations with the Hickses he had carefully avoided the least allusion
that might make him feel the heavy hand of their beneficence. But the
idle procrastinating weeks had weakened him and he had yielded to the
need of putting into words his vague intentions. To do so would perhaps
help to make them more definite.

To his relief Miss Hicks made no immediate reply; and when she spoke it
was in a softer voice and with an unwonted hesitation.

"It seems a shame that with gifts like yours you shouldn't find some
kind of employment that would leave you leisure enough to do your real
work...."

He shrugged ironically. "Yes--there are a goodish number of us hunting
for that particular kind of employment."

Her tone became more business-like. "I know it's hard to find--almost
impossible. But would you take it, I wonder, if it were offered to
you--?"

She turned her head slightly, and their eyes met. For an instant blank
terror loomed upon him; but before he had time to face it she continued,
in the same untroubled voice: "Mr. Buttles's place, I mean. My parents
must absolutely have some one they can count on. You know what an easy
place it is.... I think you would find the salary satisfactory."

Nick drew a deep breath of relief. For a moment her eyes had looked as
they had in the Scalzi--and he liked the girl too much not to shrink
from reawakening that look. But Mr. Buttles's place: why not?

"Poor Buttles!" he murmured, to gain time.

"Oh," she said, "you won't find the same reasons as he did for throwing
up the job. He was the martyr of his artistic convictions."

He glanced at her sideways, wondering. After all she did not know of
his meeting with Mr. Buttles in Genoa, nor of the latter's confidences;
perhaps she did not even know of Mr. Buttles's hopeless passion. At any
rate her face remained calm.

"Why not consider it--at least just for a few months? Till after our
expedition to Mesopotamia?" she pressed on, a little breathlessly.

"You're awfully kind: but I don't know--"

She stood up with one of her abrupt movements. "You needn't, all
at once. Take time think it over. Father wanted me to ask you," she
appended.

He felt the inadequacy of his response. "It tempts me awfully, of
course. But I must wait, at any rate--wait for letters. The fact is
I shall have to wire from Rhodes to have them sent. I had chucked
everything, even letters, for a few weeks."

"Ah, y