takes his food more out of custom than necessity. Presently he
became irritated at her continued silence.

"You heard what I said, didn't you?" he demanded--"And you
understood?"

She looked full at him with sorrowful, earnest eyes.

"Yes, Dad. I heard. And I understood."

He nodded and smiled, and appeared to take it for granted that she
had received an order which it was her bounden duty to obey. The
sun shone brilliantly in upon the beautiful old room, and through
the open window came a pleasant murmuring of bees among the
mignonette, and the whistle of a thrush in an elm-tree sounded
with clear and cheerful persistence. Hugo Jocelyn looked at the
fair view of the flowering garden and drew his breath hard in a
quick sigh.

"It's a fine day," he said--"and it's a fine world! Ay, that it
is! I'm not sure there's a better anywhere! And it's a bit
difficult to think of going down for ever into the dark and the
cold, away from the sunshine and the sky--but it's got to be
done!"--here he clenched his fist and brought it down on the table
with a defiant blow--"It's got to be done, and I've got to do it!
But not yet--not quite yet!--I've plenty of time and chance to
stop mischief!"

He rose, and drawing himself up to his full height looked for the
moment strong and resolute. Taking one or two slow turns up and