She moved away as she spoke. It may be that she saw further trifling would not do. But even in the last sentence, thoughtlessly though she had spoken it, there was an implied consciousness of the wide difference in their social standing, all too prominent to that sensitive ear. A minute afterwards St. John looked round for him, and could not see him. "Where's Henry Arkell?" he asked of Georgina. She looked round also. "He is gone, I suppose," she answered. "He was in one of his stupid moods to-night." "That's something new for him. Stupid?" "I used the word in a wide sense. Crazy would have been better." "What do you mean, Georgina?" "He is a little crazy at times--to me. There! that's all I am going to tell you: you are not my father confessor." "True," he said; "but I think I understand without confession. Take care, Georgina." "Take care of what?" "Of--I may as well say it--of exciting hopes that are most unlikely to be realized. Better play a true part than a false one." She laughed a little saucy laugh. "Don't you think I might turn the tables and warn you of that? What false hopes are you exciting, Mr. St. John?" "None," he answered. "It is not in my nature to be false, even in sport." Her laugh changed to one of derision; and Mr. St. John, disliking the sound, disliking the words, turned from her, and joined the dean, who was then deep in a discussion with one of the judges. CHAPTER IX. THE SHADOW OF DEATH. The days went on; and the dull, heavy pain in the head, complained of by Henry Arkell, increased in intensity. At first his absence from his desk at school, his vacant place at college, excited comment, but in time, as the newness of it wore off, it grew to be no longer noticed. It is so with all things. On the afternoon of the fall, the family surgeon was called in to him: he saw no cause for apprehension, he said; the head only required rest. It might have been better, perhaps, had the head (including the body and brain) been able to take the recommended rest; but it could not. On the Monday morning came the excitement of the medal affair, as related to him by Mr. St. John, and also by many of the school; in the evening there occurred the excitement of that business of the register; the interview with the Prattletons, and subsequently with Mr. Fauntleroy. On the next day he had to appear as a witness; and then came the deanery dinner in the evening and Georgina Beauclerc. All sources of great and unwonted excitement, had he been in his usual state of health: what it was to him now, never could be ascertained.