Camilla left him in the hall, while she went into the library and read the contents of the letter to Mr. and Mrs. Francis. She returned presently and with a pleasant smile said, holding out her hand, "You are Mr. Russell. I am glad to meet you. Tell Pearl the flowers will be sent to-night." She opened the door as she spoke, and Jim found himself going down the steps, wondering just how it happened that he had not said one word--he who was usually so ready of speech. "Well, well," he said to himself as he untied Chiniquy, "little Jimmy's lost his tongue, I wonder why?" All the way home the vision of lovely dark eyes and rippling brown hair with just a hint of red in it, danced before him. Chiniquy, taking advantage of his master's preoccupation, wandered aimlessly against a barbed wire, taking very good care not to get too close to it himself. Jim came to himself just in time to save his leg from a prod from the spikes. "Chiniquy, Chiniquy," he said gravely, "I understand now something of the hatred the French bear your illustrious namesake. But no matter what the man's sins may have been, surely he did not deserve to have a little flea-bitten, mangey, treacherous, mouse-coloured deceiver like you named for him." When Camilla had read Pearl's letter to Mr. and Mrs. Francis, the latter was all emotion. How splendid of her, so sympathetic, so full of the true inwardness of Christian love, and the sweet message of the poppy, the emblem of sleep, so prophetic of that other sleep that knows no waking! Is it not a pagan thought, that? What tender recollections they will bring the poor sufferer of her far away, happy childhood home! Mrs. Francis's face was shining with emotion as she spoke. Then she became dreamy. "I wonder is her soul attune to the melodies of life, and will she feel the love vibrations of the ether?" Mr. Francis had noiselessly left the room when Camilla had finished her rapid explanation. He returned with his little valise in his hand. He stood a moment irresolutely looking, in his helpless dumb way, at his wife, who was so beautifully expounding the message of the flowers. Camilla handed him the box. She understood. Mrs. Francis noticed the valise in her husband's hand. "How very suddenly you make up your mind, James," she said. "Are you actually going away on the train to-night? Really James, I believe I shall write a little sketch for our church paper. Pearl's thoughtfulness has moved me, James. It really has touched me deeply. If you were not so engrossed in business, James, I really believe it would move you; but men are so different from us, Camilla. They are not so soulful. Perhaps it is just as well, but really sometimes, James, I fear you give business too large a place in your life. It is all business, business, business." Mrs. Francis opened her desk, and drawing toward her her gold pen and dainty letter paper, began her article.