, to the
old deadly round that once had seemed so natural and inevitable, to the
old dull Lawford--eyes and brain and heart.

They returned up the dark shallow staircase to Herbert's book-room, and
he talked on to very quiet and passive listeners in his own fantastic
endless fashion. And ever and again Lawford would find himself
intercepting fleeting and anxious glances at his face, glances almost
of remorse and pity; and thought he detected beneath this irresponsible
contradictory babble an unceasing effort to clear the sky, to lure away
too pressing memories, to put his doubts and fears completely to rest.

Herbert even went so far as to plead guilty, when Grisel gave him the
cue, of having a little heightened and overcoloured his story of
the restless phantasmal old creature that haunted their queer wooden
hauntable old house. And when they rose, laughing and yawning to take
up their candles, it was, after all, after a rather animated discussion,
with many a hair-raising ghost story brought in for proof between
brother and sister, as to exactly how many times that snuff-coloured
spectre had made his appearance; and, with less unanimity still, as
to the precise manner in which he was in the habit of making his
precipitant exit.

'You do at any rate acknowledge, Grisel, that the old creature does
appear, and that you saw him yourself step out into space when you were
sitting down there under the willow shelling peas. I've seen him twice
for certain, once rather hazily; Sallie saw him so plainly she asked his
business: that's five. I resign.'

'Acknowledge!' said Grisel; 'of course I do. I'd acknowledge anything in
the world to save argument. Why, I don't know what I should do without
him. If only, now Mr Lawford would give him a fair chance to show
himself reading quietly here about ten minutes to one, or shelling peas
even, if he prefers it. If only he'd stay long enough for THAT. Wouldn't
it be the very thing for them both!'

'Of course,' said Herbert cordially, 'the very thing.'

Lawford looked up at neither of them. He shook his head.

But he needed little persuasion to stay at least one night. The prospect
of that long solitary walk, of that tired stupid stooping figure
dragging itself along the interminable country roads seemed a sheer
impossibility. 'It is not--it isn't, I swear it--the other that beeps me
back,' he had solemnly assured the friend that half smiled her relief at
his acceptance, 'but--if y