up her knees as she sat on the grass by her Professor's chair, and
pushing away the Greek grammar, said, with grave eyes fixed upon his
face:

"Cheiron, to-day something tells me I can show you Aphrodite. When it is
cooler, about five o'clock, will you come with me to the second terrace?
There I will leave you and go and fetch her, and as William and
Priscilla will be at tea, I can open the secret door, and you shall see
where she lives--all in the dark!"

Mr. Carlyon felt duly honored--for they had never referred to this
subject since she had first mentioned it. The Professor felt it was one
of deep religious solemnity to his little friend, and had waited until
she herself should feel he was worthy of her complete confidence.

"She speaks to me more than ever," Halcyone continued. "I took her out
in the moonlight on Thursday night, and she seemed to look more lovely
than before. It has pleased her that I call her Aphrodite--it was
certainly her name."

"It is settled, then," said Cheiron, "at five o'clock I will be upon the
terrace."

Halcyone returned to her grammar, and silence obtained between them.
Then presently Mr. Carlyon spoke.

"I am going to have a visitor for a week or perhaps more," he announced.

A startled pair of eyes looked up at him.