"Oh, there's no such desperate hurry," he said hastily; "I haven't much to write up to-night. We must have some supper first." "Yes," she agreed, "I suppose we shall begin to feel hungry soon if we don't. I'll see about it. What would you like?" "The cold ham and a couple of boiled eggs will suit me." She agreed again. "That won't take long, and then you can begin your report." Again he protested hastily. "Oh, but there's no hurry about that, I assure you. I only wanted to save trouble." While she was away he stood before the fire, gazing absently into space and scarcely moving a muscle. The ham and boiled eggs appeared, and a little more animation became apparent, but it was not a lively feast. She talked for a little in an ordinary, cheerful way, just as though there was no very special subject for conversation; but he seemed too absent-minded and silent to respond even to these overtures, except with a brief smile and a briefer word. They had both been quite silent for about five minutes, when he suddenly said in a constrained manner, but with quite a different intonation-- "Well, I am afraid our ways part now. What are you going to do next?" "I've been wondering," she said; "and I think if Mrs Craigie still wants me I ought to go back to her." "Back to the Craigies!" he exclaimed. "And become--er--a governess again?" "It will be rather dull at first," she laughed; "but one can't have such adventures as this every day, and I really have treated the Craigies rather badly. You see you told Mr Craigie the truth about my desertion of them, and they may forgive me. If they do, and if they still need me, I feel I simply must offer my services." "It's very good of you." She laughed again. "It is at least as much for my own interest as Mrs Craigie's. I have nowhere else to go to and nothing else to do." "I wish I could offer you another job like this," said he. A sparkle leapt into her eyes. "If you ever do see any chance of making any sort of use of me--I mean of letting me be useful--you will be sure to let me know, won't you?" "Rather! But honestly, I'm not likely to have such a bit of luck as this again." "What will you be doing?" "Whatever I'm told to do; the sort of thing I was on before--odd jobs of the 'hush' type. But I wish I could think of you doing something more--well, more worthy of your gifts." "One must take one's luck as it comes," she said with an outward air of philosophy, whatever her heart whispered. "Exactly," he agreed with emphasis. "Still----" He broke off, and pulled a pipe out of his pocket. "I'll leave you to smoke," she said, "and say good-night now." "One moment!" said he, jumping up; "there's something I feel I must say. I've been rather contrite about it. I'm afraid I haven't quite played cricket so far as you are concerned." She looked at him quickly. "What do you mean?" she asked.