by the kind invitation of Miss Noah for Friday evening.

"RE-GRET, _n._ That which Mr. Webster experiences because, for
reasons into which he cannot go in detail, it is impossible for him
to accept Miss Noah's invitation.

"RE-SENT-MENT, _n._ That which is inspired in Mr. Webster by
the insinuation that there are other Miss Noahs in the world."

Then below he had written: "Three hours later. Miss Noah, the world
is queer. Some day you may find out--though I hope you never
will--that it is frequently the things we most want to do that we
must leave undone. Miss Noah, won't you go on bringing me as much of
yourself as you can to Dearborn Street, and try not to think much
about my not being able to know the Miss Noah of Hyde Park? And
little Miss Noah--I thank you. There aren't words enough in this old
book of ours to tell you how much--or why."

That night he hurried away with never a joke about how many words
she had written that day. She did not look up as he stood there
putting on his coat.

It was spring now, and the dictionary staff had begun on W.

They had written of Joy, of Hope and Life and Love, and many other
things. Life seemed pressing just behind some of those definitions,
pressing the harder, perhaps, because it could not break through the
surface.

For it did not break through; it flooded just beneath.