and the lamplight fell on the deep roll of hair that overhung her
brow like the eaves of a temple. Her face had often the high
secluded look of a shrine; and it was this touch of awe in her
beauty that now made him feel himself on the brink of sacrilege.

Lest the feeling should dominate him, he spoke at once. "I've
brought you a piece of work--a lot of old bills and things that I
want you to sort for me. Some are not worth keeping--but you'll
be able to judge of that. There may be a letter or two among
them--nothing of much account, but I don't like to throw away the
whole lot without having them looked over and I haven't time to do
it myself."

He held out the papers and she took them with a smile that seemed
to recognize in the service he asked the tacit intention of making
amends for the incident of the previous day.

"Are you sure I shall know which to keep?"

"Oh, quite sure," he answered, easily--"and besides, none are of
much importance."

The next morning he invented an excuse for leaving the house
without seeing her, and when he returned, just before dinner, he
found a visitor's hat and stick in the hall. The visitor was
Flamel, who was in the act of taking leave.

He had risen, but Alexa remained seated; and their attitude gave
the impression of a colloquy that had prolonged itself beyond the
limits of speech. Both turned a surprised eye on Glennard and he