"Heaven send I may earn your thanks again--and very soon," he answered,
lifting the battered hat.

"You didn't tell me your name!" said she, fumbling in a well-worn little
hand bag for her latchkey.

"I am called Geoffrey."

Hermione opened the door and, taking up the suit case, held out her
hand.

"Good-by, Mr. Geoffrey!"

"For the present!" said he, and though his tone was light there was a
very real humility in his attitude as he stood bareheaded before her.
"For the present!" he repeated.

"Well--we are very near neighbours," said she, dark lashes a-droop.

"And neighbourliness is next to godliness--isn't it?"

"Is it?"

"Well, I think so, anyway? So, Miss Hermione--not 'good-by.'"

She glanced swiftly up at him, flushed, and turning about, was gone. But
even so, before her door closed quite, she spoke soft-voiced:
"Good--evening, Mr. Geoffrey!"

Thereafter, for a space, Mr. Ravenslee stood precisely where he was,