As the endless complications--the annoying changes to be wrought in his life by the introduction of such trying persons as Joey Ferris into his hitherto unmolested retreat--as all this swept over him, he realised that he had overshot his mark and landed himself in unforeseen difficulties and vexations. Some gratifications still remained--for instance, the prospect of reading and of answering his mother-in-law's first letter, appealing for more money! Ah, that still lay in the future, along with her inevitable suggestion that she should come for a "nice long visit" to Omberleigh, and his blunt refusal of her company! In her, at least, he had not been mistaken. It was only in the case of this artless, babyish creature upstairs that he had made such an ass of himself. Shrugging his shoulders, he turned slowly away from the doorway, and betook himself to his study. There he sat down and wrote a message. _The doctor tells me you need rest, and should be left quite quiet. That being so, I feel sure that I had better keep away altogether. But there is something I have to say, so will you, for the sake of appearances, grant me a few minutes' conversation this afternoon. Choose your own time.--O. G._ CHAPTER XIV INSTANTANEOUS CONVERSION "_I was a moody comrade to her then, For all the love I bore her.... ... This had come to be A game to play, a love to clasp, a hate To wreak, all things together that a man Needs for his blood to ripen.... ... In those hours no doubt To the young girl, my eyes were like my soul,-- Dark wells of death-in-life that yearned for day._"-- --D. G. Rossetti. A pencil note was brought downstairs to the master by Grover, who wore a demure look, as though she guessed how novel and charming a pastime to the woman-hater was this playful exchange of love-letters. He was seated at the lunch-table when the little envelope was handed to him, and a surly self-consciousness kept him from opening it until Hemming had retired, which conduct on his part caused amused nudgings between the servants outside. _Please come to tea at four._--Virginia. Such was the extent of the "love-letter" when he had opened it. He shrugged his shoulders. He did not want to have tea with her in the least. However, it would have a good effect upon the household--keep up the fiction of their mutual desire for each other's society. At a few minutes after four, he knocked at her door. Grover had just arranged the tea-table close to the bed, and was putting away one or two things before leaving the room. Virginia blushed brightly as her jailer entered, but gave him a timid smile of welcome. She told Grover, with whom she was evidently on the best of terms already, to set a chair for him, directed the closing of one window, lest there be too much draught; and so did the honours until the maid, benevolently smiling, had disappeared.