Up the Hill and Over

ot want to think of her; he wanted to go to sleep. Twice only had he seen her. Once upon the occasion of the red pump and once when casually passing her on the main street. There was no r

d not want to think about eyes. He wanted to go to sleep. He did not want to think about hair either. Although Miss Coombe had very nice hair-cloudy hair, with little ways of growing ab

ompany and when at last he did drop off he did not

r! Are you awake

t awake.

me clearly thro

ugh the same medium. "A man. A well man, not a sick o

lipped on his dressing gown with a r

he wasn't an agent. Now he's in the parlour. Aunt hopes you'll hur

does h

ssive gesture which seemed to e

not old, but he's bald.

ative gesture, "is like

t tell h

erhaps he is a button-moulder. In fact I'm almost cer

aker, he can't be a prof

t he professes. His line is a specialty

ond-

r than

hen with a flash of her odd childish comprehension,

djusted a co

said, "but between you and me, I do rather like old Willits. You see I was

Aunt! She said I wasn'

Mrs. Sykes could be

l have to take a firm stand with Ann, Doctor. Land Sakes, I don't want to make her out worse'n s

y be, I shall do it. Are you sure it's s

sn't got a case or a book anywhere. But agents are getting cuter every day. Naturally I didn't like to go so far as to ask his name. And I'm

n a few moments longer, dear Mrs. Sykes, and your non-ex

th her carpet and too proud of her possessions to care to hide their glories altogether; hence the blinds were never wholly drawn and never raised more than half way. In the yellow gloom, one might feast one's eyes at leisure upon the centre table, draped in red damask, mystic, wonderf

and the other a representation of an entrancing allegorical theme entitled "The Two Paths," illustrating the ascent of the saint into heaven and the descent of th

hardly his fault that he stumbled over the visitor who, whether in awe or fear

e!" said the

d be you! Say, would you mind not si

d, piercing eyes and formidable nose. Ann's description had been terribly accurate

ect me to make you welcome, because you aren't. Wh

all to do with it," declared the visitor. "I

ake a go

you can g

as always a good guesser

you h

first, is there any other

like this?"

ok of surprised anguish

dar la

derstand this room? No? Will it help any if I tell you that Mrs. Sykes went without a spring bonnet that she might purchase the deep gold frame which enshrines Victoria th

ily. "The place is a nightmare. Nothing can ex

ccasions that any one is allowed to stand this room. You are a special occasi

ve an o

or has to have an

hich the after flush of sunrise streamed. Its door opened upon a small stone stoop set in the grass of the front lawn. The furniture of the room was plain, not to say severe. Cool matting covered the painted floo

kind of dazed surprise. "Office

on with perfect good breeding. Also, the room has natural advantages, it is in the nature of an annex, you see, with a door of its own. Quite cut off from the rest of the house save-for th

de as if to sit down upon the nearest chair, bu

ease. It may not be

y returned. It was a very dry vo

glued I shall sit down and dispose of a few burning thoughts

it finishe

h a sweeping hand wave-"mean? You c

y n

estion i

e again. I must spend that year somewhere. Why not here? It is healthy, high, piney, quiet. I had become utterly tired of my tramping tour. All the good I can get from it I ha

parently he required time to adjust his mind to the fact t

s office? If it is not a torn-fool office

ave rested as I have not rested for a year. Look at me! Can't you see it? Or is the renovation

let eyes of the professor were busy. Then he se

?" He aske

He flushed, looked embarrassed, and dr

o right to ask," ad

uestion and I didn't like it. The answer is not a flattering one-to me. Nor

rayed itself upon t

evil s

thought I was the one to blame? There was ret

derstand! I thou

oesn't! Not in tha

ept my apology. I fee

arrassment and guilt u

net, Lorna, is a girl in a thousand. But-I did not care for her as a man should care for the woman he makes his wife. Nor did she car

andar! Are

Lorna Sinnet is not a woman to give her love and take a half-love in return. Sh

on being devoid of sentiment, but even the most sensible of men, entirel

as mistaken. Let us s

at no man ever had a better friend! I know you, old Button-Moulder. I know your ambition to make of me a 'shining button on the vest of the

e nothing,

life-my

the latter if

ain! And it isn't only a physical improvement." His smile faded and rising he began to pace the room. "I doubt if even you fully understand the mental depression that was dragging me down. No wonder Lorna would have none of me! Strange, that I cannot und

r told me

eak of it. It would hav

w, if you are sure yo

bored," said W