This kind of thing won't do, John. You'd soon kill yourself at this
rate."

"Not to be done, my dear fellow. I am the toughest thing in creation. I
have been sitting up all night for the last week or so, and that does
rather impair the freshness of one's complexion; but I assure you
there's nothing so good for a man as a week or two of unbroken work. I
have been doing an exhaustive review of Roman literature for one of the
quarterlies, and the subject involved a little more reading than I was
quite prepared for."

"And you have really not been ill?"

"Not in the least. I am never ill."

He pushed aside his papers, and sat with his elbow on the desk and his
head leaning on his hand, waiting for Gilbert to talk. He was evidently
in one of those silent moods which were common to him at times.

Gilbert told him of his Melbourne troubles, and of his immediate
departure. The announcement roused him from his absent humour. He dropped
his arm from the table suddenly, and sat looking full at Gilbert with a
very intent expression.

"This is strange news," he said, "and it will cause the postponement of
your marriage, I suppose?"

"Unhappily, yes; that is unavoidable. Hard lines, isn't it, Jack?"

"Well, yes; I daresay the separation seems rather a hardship; but you are