His thoughts, and, at intervals, his mutterings, continued to be active
far into the night, long after the callers had gone, and though his
household and the neighborhood were at rest, with never a katydid
outside to rail at the waning moon. And by a coincidence not more
singular than most coincidences, it happened that at just about the time
he finally fell asleep, a young lady at no great distance from him awoke
to find her self thinking of him.




XI

BEGINNING A TRUE FRIENDSHIP

This was Miss Jane Baxter. She opened her eyes upon the new-born day,
and her first thoughts were of Mr. Parcher. That is, he was already
in her mind when she awoke, a circumstance to be accounted for on the
ground that his conversation, during her quiet convalescence in his
library, had so fascinated her that in all likelihood she had been
dreaming of him. Then, too, Jane and Mr. Parcher had a bond in common,
though Mr. Parcher did not know it. Not without result had William
repeated Miss Pratt's inquiry in Jane's hearing: "Who IS that curious
child?" Jane had preserved her sang-froid, but the words remained with
her, for she was one of those who ponder and retain in silence.

She thought almost exclusively of Mr. Parcher until breakfast-time, and
resumed her thinking of him at intervals during the morning. Then, in
the afternoon, a series of quiet events not unconnected with William's