It was the sultriest day of the whole season--surely they could not think of shutting up the second-floor back windows to-night! Alicia was pale and silent.

The lovely brown eyes, when they looked at me, said as plainly as in words, "We have been crying a great deal, Frank, since we saw you last." The little white fingers gave mine a significant squeeze--and that was all the reference that passed between us to what happened in the morning.

She sat through the dinner bravely; but, when the dessert came, left us for the night, with a few shy, hurried words about the excessive heat of the weather being too much for her.

I rose to open the door, and exchanged a last meaning look with her, as she bowed and went by me.

Little did I think that I should have to live upon nothing but the remembrance of that look for many weary days that were yet to come.
The doctor was in excellent spirits, and almost oppressively hospitable.
We sat sociably chatting over our claret till past eight o'clock.