Again for a while neither of them spoke. Elias was uncomfortably conscious that the rabbi's eyes were fixed upon his face. He stood it as long as he could. Then, abruptly, he got up. “Please excuse me,” he said, “I have something to do up-stairs.” With which he left the room. He went to his studio and locked the door behind him. He had told the rabbi that he had something to do. But the truth was that he had nothing to do, except to kill time as best he could until the hour should arrive for him to start for Sixty-third Street. He had arranged not to call upon Christine at all that day. He thought it would be more considerate to leave her alone with her father. Now, the day stretched out like an eternity before his imagination. Would it ever wear away? It occurred to him that it might not be a bad plan to get some sleep, if he could; so he retired to his bedroom, and threw himself all dressed upon his bed. Pretty soon he heard a rap upon the door. “Who is it?” he demanded. “I,” the rabbi's voice responded. . “He'll end by driving me mad,” thought Elias. “What do you want?” he asked aloud. “I want to see you.” “Well, I'm busy.” “I shan't interfere with your business.” “I'm going to sleep.” “I shan't prevent you from sleeping.” Elias said nothing further. The rabbi came in. “I only wanted to sit with you. It is better that I should be on hand,” explained the rabbi, and sat down near the window. Elias closed his eyes and tried hard to sleep. But he could not sleep. It is doubtful whether, in view of his approaching wedding, he could have slept, under the most soothing circumstances. Under the actual circumstances, it was like trying to sleep while some one is sticking pins into you. Elias strove to be philosophical. “Why should I allow his mere presence to irritate me as it does?” he asked himself. Whatever the correct answer to this inquiry may have been, the fact remained that the rabbi's mere presence did irritate him to an excessive degree. He bore it for a few minutes silently. At length, flinging his philosophy overboard, he jumped up from his bed, and announced vehemently, “Well, I'm going out.” “Ah,” said the rabbi, quietly, “I'll go with you.” “Thanks,” replied Elias, “but I prefer to go alone.” “I'm sorry,” said the rabbi; “but it is my duty.” “What's your duty?” “It is my duty not to let you leave my sight today.” At this Elias lost his self-control. “In heaven's name,” he blurted out, “do--do you mean to say that you're going to stick to me like this all day?” “I should fail in my duty toward you, if I did not.” “Well then, do you--do you know what you'll do?” cried Elias, in a loud, infuriated voice. “No; what?” questioned the rabbi, composedly. “Good God! You--you'll drive me out of my senses. You make me feel as though my head would split open. You--you--” His voice choked in his throat. His face had become burning red. “Look out,” said the rabbi. “You'll burst a blood-vessel, if you carry on like that.”