the door to be opened, his heart
misgave him; he was not sure how she would regard his gift, and, in a
burst of cowardice, he resolved just to hand in the roses, without even
leaving his name. But his first ring remained unanswered, and before he
rang again, he had time to be afraid she would not be at home--a
simple, but disappointing solution.

There was another pause. Then he heard sounds, steps came along the
passage, and the door was opened by Louise herself.

He was so unprepared for this that he could not collect his wits; he
thrust the flowers into her hand, with a few stammered words, and his
foot was on the stair before she could make a movement to stop him.

Louise had peered out from the darkness of the passage to the dusk of
the landing, with the air of one roused from sleep. She looked from him
to the roses in her hand, and back at him. He tried to say something
else, raised his hat, and was about to go. But, when she saw this, she
impulsively stepped towards him.

"Are they for me?" she asked. And added: "Will you not come in? Please,
come in."

At the sound of her voice, Maurice came back from the stair-head. But
it was not possible for him to stay: friends--engaged--a promise of
long standing.

"Ah then ... of course." She retreated into the shadow of the doorway.
"But I am quite alone. There is no one in but me."

"Why, however does that happen?" Maurice asked quickly, and was ready
at once to be wrath with all the world. He paused irresolute, with his
hand on the banisters.

"I said I didn't mind. But it is lonely."

"I should think it was.--On this night of all others, too."

He followed her down the passage. In the room there was no light except
what played on the walls from the streetlamps, the blinds being still
undrawn. She had been sitting in the dark. Now, she took the globe off
the lamp, and would have lighted it, but she could not find matches.

"Let me do it," said Maurice, taking out his own; and, over the head of
this trifling service, he had a feeling of intense satisfaction. By the
light that was cast on the table, he watched her free the roses from
their paper, and raise them to her face. She did not mention them
again, but it was ample thanks to see her touch several of them singly,
as she put them in a jug of water.

But this done, they sat on opposite sides of the table, and had nothing
to say to each other. After each banal observation he made came a
heart-rending pau