Harry turned to her suddenly. "Say nothing of this to the Major. Let him alone; that's best. We'll see about all that afterward. Good-by." "And--and the Ivers?" She could not restrain the question. A slight frown came on his brow; he seemed to have no relish for the subject. "Oh, that'll wait too," he said impatiently. He caught her by the arm as he had done once before. "If all they said was true, if what you think was true (he smiled at her as he spoke), I'd change with no man in England; remember that. If it comes to a fight and I'm beaten, remember that." And he ran down the hill. Mina returned slowly to the library and found Neeld walking restlessly to and fro. For the moment they did not speak. Mina sat down and followed the old gentleman's figure in its restless pacing. "You heard him about his mother?" she asked at last. He nodded, but did not reply. "You make all the difference," she blurted out after another pause. Again he nodded, not ceasing his walk. For a minute or two longer Mina endured the suspense, though it seemed more than she could bear. Then she sprang up, ran to him, intercepted him, and caught hold of both his hands, arresting his progress with an eager, imperious grip. "Well?" she cried. "Well? What are you going to do?" For a moment still he waited. Then he spoke deliberately. "I can't consider it my duty to do anything, Madame Zabriska." "Ah!" cried the Imp in shrill triumph, and she flung her arms round his neck and kissed him. She did not mind his putting it on the score of duty. IX THE MAN IN POSSESSION