Bay Company's ship, which comes over twice a year, touches at
Halifax, and if Brokaw followed out his intentions he took passage
there. The ship should be in within a week or ten days. And, by
the way"--Philip stood up and thrust his hands deep in his pockets
as he spoke, half smiling at Gregson--"it gives me pleasure to
hand you a bit of cheerful information along with that," he added.
"Miss Brokaw is coming with him. She is very beautiful."

Gregson held a lighted match until it burnt his finger-tips.

"The deuce you say! I've heard--"

"Yes, you have heard of her beauty, no doubt. I am not a special
enthusiast in your line, Greggy, but I will confirm your opinion
of Miss Brokaw. You will say that she is the most beautiful girl
you have ever seen, and you will want to make heads of her for
BURKE'S. I suppose you wonder why she is coming up here? So do I."

There was a look of perplexity in Philip's eyes which Gregson
might have noticed if he had not gone to the door to look out into
the night.

"What makes the stars so big and bright up in this country, Phil?"
he asked.

"Because of the clearness of the atmosphere through which you are
looking," replied Philip, wondering what was passing through the
other's mind. "This air--compared with ours--is just like a piece
of glass that has been cleaned of a year's accumulation of dirt."