ll
right, it must be all right, now! (But how the train crawled.)

Poor John, poor old Bones! What a blow it had been for him. Although he
should certainly have had more sense than to fancy--Well, of course, a
man can fancy anything it he wants it badly enough. Spence was honestly
sorry for John--that is, he would be when he had time to consider
John's case. But John, too, would be all right presently. (Why under
heaven do trains need to wait ten minutes while silly people walk on
platforms without hats?) John would marry a nice girl. Not a girl like
Desire--not that type of girl at all. Someone quite different, but
nice. A fair girl, like that nurse he had had in his office. John might
be very happy with a wife like that ...

* * * * *

It was not until the fourth night out that the professor remembered the
packet from Li Ho. It had loomed so small among the events of that day
fof revelations that he had completely forgotten it. He did not even
remember putting it in his pocket--but there it was, still unopened,
and promising some slight distraction from the wearying contemplation
of the crawling train. It would shut out, too, the annoyance of the
tobacco traveller, smoking with an offensive leisureliness, and
declaring, in defiance of all feeling, that they were "Sharp on time
and going some!"

With a reviving interest in something outside the time-table, Spence
cut the string and opened the yellow packet. A small note-book fell out
and a letter--two letters, and one of them in the unmistakable writing
of Li Ho him-self. This latter, the professor opened first.

"Honorable Spence and Esteemed Professor, dear Sir," wrote Li Ho.
"Permit felicity to include book belong departed parent of valued wife.
Deceased lady write as per day. Li Ho extract and think proper missy to
know. Honorable Boss head much loony. Secure that missy remain removed
if desiring safety. Belong much danger here since married as per also
enclosed. Exalted self be insignificantly warned by person of no
intelligence, Li Ho."

Farther down, in a corner of the sheet was this sentence:

"Permit to notably add that respected lady departed life Jan. 14."

Li Ho had certainly surpassed himself. The bewildered professor forgot
about the time-table entirely. What Chinese meaning lay behind this
jumble of dictionary words? That they were not used at haphazard Spence
knew. Li Ho had some distinct meaning to convey--had in