seemed almost impossible to wait one moment before telling him. On the
other hand, it would be so absorbing to them both, that probably
Ronnie's subject would be allowed to lapse, completely forgotten and
unmentioned. Nothing which was of even the most transitory interest to
Ronnie, ever met this fate at his wife's hands. Therefore the very
certainty that her news would outweigh his, inclined her to let him
speak first.

She was spared the responsibility of decision.

Ronald, turning quickly, faced his wife. Hesitation seemed futile;
promptness, essential. _In hoc vince!_

"Helen," he said, "I want to go to Central Africa."

Helen looked at him in silence, during a moment of immense astonishment.

Then she lifted his hat and gloves, laid them upon a table, seated
herself in her easy-chair, and carefully flicked some specks of dust
from her riding-habit.

"That is a long way to want to go, darling," she said, quietly. "But I
can see you think something of imperative importance is calling you
there. Sit down and tell me all about it, right from the beginning. It
is a far cry from our happy, beautiful life here, to Central Africa. You
have jumped me to the goal, without any knowledge of the way. Now
suppose you take me gently along your mental route."

Ronald flung himself, with a sigh of relief, into the deep basket-work
chair opposite Helen's. His boyish face cleared visibly; then