s;heonlytookoutamoroccopocket-book,thenceproducedaletter,whichhereadinsilence,foldedit,putitback,relapsediation.Itwasvaintotrytoreadwithsuinscrutablefixturebeforeme;norcouldI,inimpatience,senttobedumb;hemightrebuffmeifmyheliked,buttalkIwould.

    “HaveyouheardfromDianaandMarylately?”

    “NotsiheletterIshowedyouaweekago.”

    “Therehasnotbeenanygemadeaboutyourements?YouwillnotbesummooleaveEnglandsoohanyouexpected?”

    “Ifearnot,indeed:suchceistoogoodtobefallme.”Baffledsofar,Igedmyground.Ibethoughtmyselftotalkabouttheschoolandmyscholars.

    “MaryGarrett’smotherisbetter,andMarycamebacktotheschoolthism,andIshallhavefirlsweekfromtheFoundryClose—theywouldhaveeto-daybutforthesnow.”

    “Indeed!”

    “Mr.Oliverpaysfortwo.”

    “Doeshe?”

    “HemeanstogivethewholeschoolatreatatChristmas.”

    “Iknow.”

    “Wasityestion?”

    “No.”

    “Whose,then?”

    “Hisdaughter’s,Ithink.”

    “Itislikeher:sheissogood-natured.”

    “Yes.”

    Agaiheblankofapause:theclockstruckeightstrokes.Itarousedhim;heuncrossedhislegs,saterect,turome.

    “Leaveyourbookamoment,andealittlehefire,”hesaid.

    W,andofmywonderfindingnoend,Iplied.

    “Half-an-ho,”hepursued,“Ispokeofmyimpatieohearthesequelofatale:onrefle,Ifierwillbebettermanagedbymyassumingthenarrator’spart,andvertingyouintoalistener.Beforeeng,itisbutfairtowarnyouthatthestorywillsoundsomewhathaeyedinyourears;butstaledetailsoftenregainadegreeoffreshnesswhentheypassthroughnewlips.Fortherest,