She replenished the dying fire with a soft lump, and poked it unskilfully, all but stabbing the life out of it. Canning, standing and staring half-absently into the soft glow, did not offer to relieve her of the poker. They knew each other very well by now. "Only don't let's spoil our little party by talking about him," she went on--"he rubs me the wrong way so. And do please take off that polar overcoat. It positively makes me _shiver_...." "Lecturing appears to be the fellow's specialty.... Well!" He threw his overcoat, stick, and white gloves on the fire-settle, turned and glanced down at her. After the long and broken evening, he looked somewhat fatigued. Carlisle, already seated, was just beginning to unbutton her left long glove. "Fine hours, fine hours these, for even a play sick-man! Yet I linger on...." "You must stay," said she, "till the last person has gone from Mr. Beirne's." The mantel clock stood at twenty minutes past twelve. With a little laugh she reached up and turned its small commemorative face to the wall. "Or," she added, becoming grave, "are you really quite tired out with being with me?" "I was hardly thinking that," said Canning. He dropped into a chair and stared into the fire. Carlisle glanced at his face in profile; a virile and commanding face it was, and to her, singularly attractive. "My thoughts were running in the contrary direction," said Canning. "Do you remember my saying long ago that once I began to gambol, I was never satisfied till I had gambolled all over the place? I suppose I need a guardian, but unluckily I have one. Miss Heth, I've some sad news--sad for me, I mean. I must go south to-morrow." Carlisle turned her head with a little start. "To-morrow! Oh, _no_!" "No--you're right! I _can't _go to-morrow! The day after at the farthest, or I suppose Heber'll be down after me with a couple of sheriffs." "But I don't understand," she said, hurriedly. "What's happened? I--I hoped you would stay till the end of the week at least." Canning's gaze remained upon the fire. "So did I, though of course I've known I'd no business hanging on the skirt of Mason and Dixon's line this way. I might almost as well be in my office at home--tackling the pile of work that's been rolling up while I go on with this invalid's mummery.... Well, Heber's found me out, as of course the clever beggar would. He's been thinking, you see, that I was in Pineburst, at the least. I had a red-headed telegram from him this afternoon ordering me to move on to Palm Beach instanter, or he would bring my revered parents down on me like a thousand of brick--no small matter, I assure you.... Palm Beach--Havana, perhaps!--till winter breaks!... A happy New Year message, isn't it?" "It's very sad for me," said Carlisle, looking away from him. "Well, I can't say that I feel exactly hilarious about it, you know." There fell a brief silence, in which the crackling of the large new coal became noticeable.