The strong, lean fingers exercised a quiet, steady pressure, for a minute.

After which he leaned back, no longer attempting to touch her, studiously indeed keeping his distance, while he said: "The other affection is stable for ever--safe from all rivals or successors.

That is another reason why I jumped at the chance Sir Charles's letter gave me of coming here to-day, and seeing you, with this room--as I hoped--in which so much of your time must be spent, for background.

I wanted to stamp a picture of you upon my memory, burn it right into the very tissue of my brain, so that I shall always have it with me, wherever I go, and however rarely we meet .-- Because, as I see it, we shall rarely meet.

We ought to be clear on that point--leave no frayed edges.