the low sun was directly in his eyes, and he could not see her shadowed
face. But her voice of welcome came athwart the luminous darkness, and
their hands found each other. He thought hers trembled, but it was his
own. She led him to her mother.

"I am glad to see you," said Lady Tremaine. "You are just in time!"

"For what, may I ask?" returned Walter.

"It is out at last!"

"No, mamma," interrupted Lufa; "the book is not out! It is almost
ready, but I have only had one or two early copies. I am so glad Mr.
Colman will be the first to see it! He will prepare me for the
operation!"

"What do you mean?" asked Walter, bewildered. It was the first word he
had heard of her new book.

"Of course I shall be cut up! The weekly papers especially would lose
half their readers did they not go in for vivisection! But mamma
shouldn't have asked you now!"

"Why?"

"Well--you mightn't--I shouldn't like you to feel an atom less
comfortable in speaking your mind."

"There is no fear of that sort in my thoughts," answered Walter,
laughing.