The man's eyes came alive. "You're serious? You think that from what I told you, you'll be able to guess where I came from?" "I used the word 'might.' Don't get your hopes up too much." His face fell again. "Thanks for warning me," he said in a flat tone. When, later on, he had gone to his room, Carol said, "Dad, do you really think you can help him?" "That depends on your idea of help. Why are you so interested in him? Perhaps you're falling in love with him, Carol?" "I think so." "Under the circumstances, that's completely idiotic. Would there be any sense in asking _why_ you fell in love with him?" "Well, he looked so _lost_! I guess it's maternal--" "As genuine a case of the grand passion as I've ever encountered," he said drily. "Almost as genuine as your previous experience." Carol flushed. "He isn't like John." * * * * * "Fortunately, you are right. Burr was essentially a selfish baby. I can't imagine him spending _his_ life looking for a wife and children he had lost. In future, Carol, if you must fall in love at all, do it suddenly. You choose much better that way." "Yes, I know," she said. "Except for the fact that the wife and children may interfere. But don't worry, Dad. This time I'm not quitting my job and moving several million miles away to try to forget." "There'll be no need for that." His face took on a troubled expression. "You'll have to face your problem right here." * * * * * "You haven't answered _my_ question," said Carol. "Do you really think you can help him?" "That isn't an easy one to answer. We'll have to prepare him for a shock, Carol. A first-class shock. That's why I wanted to be sure you were in love with him. It may make things easier for him to stand." "What things?" Her father hesitated. "Have you ever heard of this L-treatment he mentioned?" She shook her head. "I thought not. Carol," he said, and his voice was unexpectedly full of compassion, "you're going to have a very sick man on your hands. It won't be pleasant for either you or me, and it's going to be horrible for him. But it must be gone through. He must be told." "For heaven's sake, what is it?" "The L in L-treatment," he said slowly, "stands for longevity. That was what he was treated for. But you see now why it was found to be dangerous and discontinued. The reason you never heard of it is that it was developed and discarded two hundred years ago. Callendar wasn't adrift in space for a year or two, as he thinks. He was adrift for two centuries." "No! Oh, _no_!" "That's why the clothes in those pictures seemed odd. They've been in style and out again half a dozen times, with slight changes each time. That is why, furthermore, he can't find his wife and children on any of Jupiter's moons. The moons were first colonized ninety years ago." "But he says--"