As Mrs Alleyne glanced round she saw that Oldroyd was also watching her son and Glynne, and her eyes directly after met those of the young doctor, whose thoughts she tried to read--perhaps with success. For the next half-hour, Glynne was being initiated in the mysteries of the transit instrument, and had the pleasure of seeing star after star cross the zenith, after which, the moon having risen well above the refracting and magnifying mists of earth, the largest reflector was brought to bear upon its surface. Ejaculations of delight kept escaping from Glynne's lips as she gazed at the bright tops of the various volcanoes, searched the dark shadows and craters, and literally revelled in the glories of the brightly embossed silver crescent. She had a hundred questions to ask, with all the eager curiosity and animation of a child, and with the advantage of having one as patient as he was learned, ready to respond upon the instant. "I feel so terribly selfish," cried Glynne, at last. "Oh, papa, you must come and look. Uncle, it is wonderful." "We'll have a look another time," said Sir John, good-humouredly; "only don't wear out Mr Alleyne's patience." "Oh, I hope he will not think me tiresome," cried Glynne, whose eye was directed to the glass again on the instant, "but it is so wonderful. I could watch the moon all night. Now, Mr Alleyne, just a little way from the left edge, low down, there is a brilliant ring of light--no, not quite a ring; it is as if a portion of it had been torn away, and--Oh! Robert! how you startled me." The spell was broken, for Rolph had entered the observatory, having finished his cigar. He had been standing at the door for a few moments, watching the scene before him, and a frown came over his forehead as he heard the eagerness of his betrothed's words, and saw the impressive way in which Alleyne was bending towards her, and answering her questions. Directly after, the young officer crossed the observatory, laid his hand almost rudely upon Alleyne's shoulder, and nodded to him as if to say, "Stand on one side." Alleyne started, coloured, and then drew back, with the major watching him intently, while Rolph laid his hand playfully upon Glynne's forehead, and slipped it before her eyes. "Now then, have you found the focus. What is it? A penny a peep? Here, Mr Alleyne, do you take the money?" A dead silence fell upon the group till the major hastened to break it by saying a few words of praise of the place to Mrs Alleyne. Soon afterwards they went back to the drawing-room and partook of tea, the carriage arriving directly after, and everyone thinking it time to leave, for a curious chill had come over the party, Glynne having subsided into her old, silent, inanimate way, and no effort of the major or Sir John producing anything more than a temporary glow. "Why, how quiet you are, Glynne," said Rolph, as they were on their way home. "I was thinking," she replied, quietly. "What about?"