the Slifers as the professor
asked his question. Mrs. Slifer, marshalling her girls, and stooping to
pat Victor, was introducing herself, and while Gregory told the
professor that that was Miss Woodruff, Madame Okraska's ward, she bent
to expound to the Slifers the inscription on Victor's collar, speaking,
it was evident, with kindness. Gregory was touched by the tolerance with
which, in the midst of her own sad thoughts, she satisfied the Slifers'
curiosity.

"Then she really is Norse," said the professor.

"Really half Norse."

"I like her geniality and her reticence," said the professor, watching
the humours of the little scene. "Those enterprising ladies won't get
much out of her. Ah, they must relinquish her now; her guardian is
asking for her. I suppose it's time that I got into my compartment."

The groups were breaking up and the travellers, detaching themselves
from their friends, were taking their places. Madame von Marwitz, poised
above a sea of upturned faces on the steps of her carriage, bent to
enfold Karen Woodruff once more. Doors then slammed, whistles blew,
green flags fluttered, and the long train moved slowly out of the
station.

Standing at a little distance from the crowd, and holding Victor by his
leash, Miss Woodruff looked after the train with a fixed and stiffened
smile. She was near tears. The moment was not a propitious one for
speaking to her; yet Gregory felt that he could not go without saying
good-bye. He approached her and she turned grave eyes upon him.

"And you are going to Cornwall, now?" said Gregory, patting Victor's
head.

"Yes; I go to-morrow," said Miss Woodruff in a gentle voice.

"Have you friends there?" Gregory asked, "and books? Things to amuse
you?"

"We see the rector and his wife and one or two old ladies now and then.
But it is very remote, you know. That is why my guardian loves it so
much. She needs the solitude after her rushing life. But books; oh yes;
my guardian has an excellent library there; she is a great reader; I
could read all day, in every language, if I wanted to. As for amusement,
Mrs. Talcott and I are very busy; we see after the garden and the little
farm; I practice and take Victor out for walks."

She had quite mastered her emotion and Gregory could look up at her
frankly. "Isn't there something I could send you," he said, "to help to
pass the time? Magazines? Do you have them? And sweets? Do you like
sweets?" His manner was half playful