First, however, was sent off an advanced guard, consisting of Rosamond and Terry, who went up to London with Frank, that he might there consult an aurist, and likewise present himself to his chief, and see whether he could keep his clerkship. All this turned out well, his duties did not depend on his ears, and a month's longer leave of absence was granted to him; moreover, his deafness was pronounced to be likely to yield to treatment, and a tube restored him to somewhat easier intercourse with mankind, and he was in high spirits, when, after an evening spent with Rosamond's friends, the M'Kinnons, the trio took an early train for Rockpier, where Rosamond could not detain Frank even to come to the hotel with them and have luncheon before hurrying off to Verdure Point, the villa inhabited by Sir Harry. All he had done all the way down was to impress upon her, in the fulness of his knowledge of the place, that the only habitable houses in Rockpier were in that direction--the nearer to Verdure Point the more perfect! Terry listened with smiling eyes, sometimes viewing the lover as a bore, sometimes as a curious study, confirming practical statements. Terry was thoroughly well, only with an insatiable appetite, and he viewed his fellow convalescent's love with double wonder when he found it caused oblivion of hunger, especially as Frank still looked gaunt and sallow, and was avowedly not returned to his usual health. Rosamond set forth house-hunting, dropping Terry ere long at the Library, where she went to make inquiries, and find the sine qua non. When she reached the sitting-room at the hotel, she found Frank cowering over the fire in an arm-chair, the picture of despondency. Of course, he did not hear her entrance, and she darted up to him, and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked up to her with an attempt at indifference. "Well, Frank!" "Well, Rose! How have you sped?" "I have got a house; but it is in Marine Terrace. I don't know what you'll say to me." "I don't know that it signifies." "You are shivering! What's the matter?" "Only, it is very cold!" (Aside. "Ring the bell, Terry, he is as cold as ice.") "Did you see her?" "Oh yes. Did you have any luncheon?" ("Some port-wine and hot water directly, please.") "Yes, I believe so. You are not ordering anything for me? There's nothing amiss--only it is so cold." "It is cold, and you are not to be cold; nor are we to be cold, sir. You must go to bed early in the evening, Terry," said Rosamond, at last. "I shall make nothing of him while you are by, and an hour's more sleep will not be lost on you." "Will you come and tell me then, Rosey? I deserve something." "What, for sleeping there instead of here, when you've nothing to do?" "Indeed, but I have. I want to make out this little Chaucer. I shall go down to the coffee-room and do it."