After supper, where the scallops did not fail, the four gathered before the grate. A fire crackled, and the slender jar stood above, in reminder of realms where form and color were the only deities. Gard thought Mrs. Mavering had changed. Helen's pallor and thinness did not touch her imperative identity. Mrs. Mavering had changed less in looks than in tone. There was less languor and withdrawal. As to the relations between her and Jack, they did not seem to be uncomfortable at present, and were no business of his. "Helen tells me I'm changed," he said. "Do you remember the night when I came to see you instead of playing in Saint Mary's, and Helen played she was a valiant knight and you were a lady hidden in a tower, and I offered to be the ogre who was said to have a tower of his own somewhere to be proud in? It was nearly two years ago. I think the knight is still charging, and wanting to make wrong right by sticking a lance into it. But the lady has come out of her tower and gone questing with the knight, and doesn't seem quite the same. And the ogre has found the 'somewhere' of his tower even more vague than it was then, or, if he has found it, it seems to be empty. Nothing lives there but winds and ghosts now." "What have you been doing?" asked Helen. "We hear stories of other people, but we haven't any to tell. But I don't understand what you mean." "What I've been doing hasn't much to do with it. But I'll tell about that, if you like. You'd better have Mavering's first." "Singular anchorite!" Mavering murmured. "Why?" "You'll tell it better." "Without doubt. But a reason for waiting occurs to me." "Don't you want to smoke?" asked Rachel, suddenly. "It is not what I referred to, but it proves your knowledge that my motives are physical and uninspired." In Gard's narrative there was no mention of Map, and the discovery of the first disguise was given to another source. It was told simply, rather indifferently. When it was finished Mavering remarked: "The anchorite's style has the classical merits of austerity."