Then Theodore laughed and apologized, and Cecilia said that too much work made Jack a dull boy; and then Theodore laughed again, stretching out his legs and arms as he rested a moment from his own study, and declared that, under those circumstances, Harry never would be dull.

And Harry, on those evenings, would be taken up-stairs to see the bairns in their cots; and as he stood with their mother looking down upon the children, pretty words would be said about Florence and his future life; and all was going merry as a marriage bell.

But on that morning, when the note had come from Lady Ongar, Harry could work no more to his satisfaction.

He scrawled upon his blotting-paper, and made no progress whatsoever toward the understanding of anything.

It was the day on which, in due course, he would write to Florence; and he did write to her.