e passed to her.

"Will you have a cup of coffee now, or afterward?" she inquired, as she
took the offered plate.

"Now, please. Coffee is the most refreshing of all beverages after a
fatiguing journey," he added, as he received the cup from her hands.

It was a very nice supper, yet neither of them seemed inclined to eat.

Mary Grey trifled with her chicken-wing, tasted her milk-toast and
sipped a little coffee. She looked pale, frightened and
self-concentrated.

Alden Lytton drank his coffee, remarking, with a smile, that it was
very, very strong, in fact quite bitter in its strength.

And when he had finished it he pushed the cup away, saying that it had
quite satisfied him and deprived him of the inclination to take anything
else.

As he said this he looked at his companion, and noticed for the first
time the ghastliness of her countenance.

"Mrs. Grey, are you ill?" he inquired, in some alarm.

"No; only fatigued from that railway journey. The train always shakes me
into a jelly," she answered, shivering.

"How very delicate you are, poor child! It is a great pity you should
ever be called to bear any of the roughness of life. And when my dear
Emma and I have a home together we must take care to shield you from all
that," he said.

And then he sank into a sudden silence, while she watched him closely.

"Will _you_ not take anything?" she inquired.

"No, thank you. That coffee was no doubt very fine; but it was a bitter
draught, and it has taken away my appetite for anything else," he
answered, with a smile and a half-suppressed yawn.

"Are you not well?" she next inquired.

"Oh, yes; quite well; never better in my life!" he answered, putting his
hands on his lips to conceal an irrepressible yawn.

"But you also seem very tired."

"No, only deliciously sleepy, as if I would like to go to sleep and
never wake up again," he said, with a laugh and a smothered gape.

"Then do not stand on ceremony with an old friend like me. Bid me
good-night and go at once," she said.

"And you?" he inquired.

"I am too tired to go to sleep yet. I shall sit in that rocking-chair
and rock gently. That motion will soothe and rest me better than
anything else, and after an hour I shall be able to go to bed and go to
sleep."

As Mary Grey spoke, Alden Lytton staggered to his feet and tottered
toward her, held out his hand and faltered, drowsily:

"I am forced to take your advice. I must retire at once or I shall