mutebooksayrooms.Besides,sierdayIhaveexperieheexcitementofapersontowhomatalehasbeenhalf-told,andwhoisimpatienttohearthesequel.”

    Hesatdown.Irecalledhissingularductofyesterday,andreallyIbegantofearhiswitsweretouched.Ifhewereinsane,however,hiswasaverycoolandcollectedinsanity:Ihadneverseenthathandsome-featuredfaceofhislookmorelikechiselledmarblethanitdidjustnoutasidehissnow-wethairfromhisforeheadahefirelightshinefreeonhispalebrowandcheekaspale,whereitgrievedmetodiscoverthehollowtraceofcareorsorrownowsoplainlygraved.Iwaited,expeghewouldsaysomethingIcouldatleastprehend;buthishandwasnowathis,hisfingeronhislip:hewasthinking.Itstruckmethathishandlookedwastedlikehisface.Aperhapsuncalled-fushofpityyheart:Iwasmovedtosay—

    “IwishDianaorMarywouldeandlivewithyou:itistoobadthatyoushouldbequitealone;andyouarerecklesslyrashaboutyourowh.”

    “Notatall,”saidhe:“Icareformyselfwhennecessary.Iamwellnow.Whatdoyouseeamissinme?”

    Thiswassaidwithacareless,abstractedindifference,whichshowedthatmysolicitudewas,atleastinhisopinion,whollysuperfluous.Iwassilenced.

    Hestillslowlymovedhisfingeroverhisupperlip,andstillhiseyedweltdreamilyontheglowinggrate;thinkingiturgenttosaysomething,Iaskedhimpresentlyifhefeltanychtfromthedoor,whichwasbehindhim.

    “No,no!”herespondedshortlyandsomewhattestily.

    “Well,”Ireflected,“ifyouwon’ttalk,youmaybestill;I’llletyoualonenow,aurntomybook.”

    SoIshedleandresumedtheperusalof“Marmion.”Hesoonstirred;myeyewasinstantlydrawntohismovement