Stratton opened the door without a word. Guest followed him in, to find himself in a plainly furnished sitting room, beyond which seemed to be the bedroom, while the two windows looked out westward over the Thames.

There was no sign of feminine occupation, and Guest felt staggered.

“Well,” said Stratton bitterly, “you do not answer me. What do you want?”

“You to be the same fellow I always knew. Why have you come here?”

“You are inquisitorial, but I’ll answer: Because it suits me. My rooms yonder are dark and depressing. I am ill, and want to sit here and breathe the fresh air and think. Is there anything wonderful in that?”

“No; but you need not play hide-and-seek with your friends.”

“I have no friends,” said Stratton coldly. “I am not the first man who ever took to a solitary life. It suits my whim. Now, please go and leave me to myself.”

“Very well,” said Guest, after a momentary hesitation; and he rose. “You have no friends?” he said.

“None.”

“Well, I have,” said Guest. “You are one of them, and you’ll tell me I’m right some day.”

Stratton did not take the hand extended to him, and Guest went out by no means disconcerted, but contented and pleased with his day’s work.

“Something to tell Edie,” he said to himself joyously; and he hurried up to the admiral’s to communicate his news.

“That’s a step forward,” the girl cried eagerly; “now you must go on. Persevere.”

“I will,” he said, catching her enthusiasm.

“Don’t let him drive you away.”

“Indeed I will not,” cried Guest, “only you might let me hold your hands.”

“Stuff; they are quite safe.”

“For me?” he whispered passionately.

“Percy Guest, do you know the meaning of the word taboo? Yes, I see you do by your sour look.”

“Not sour, Edie—disappointed.”

“Because you are selfish, sir. All we have to do in this life is to study others.”

“Oh! Is it?” he protested.

“Yes, and I now vow, swear, and declare that I will never even think of being happy myself till I can see Myra herself again; so now you know what to expect.”

“Oh, very well,” he said with a dissatisfied look. “But look here, Edie, if I don’t turn up some day you’ll know what it means.”

“That you will be found at your chambers with a pistol in your hand?” said Edie contemptuously.

“Do you think I should be such an idiot?” he cried indignantly.

The look she gave him made peace, and at last Guest rose to go, looking very thoughtful.

“Yes!” cried Edie, watching him merrily.

“I didn’t know I spoke,” he said, “but I was thinking that the way to put matters straight again would be to bring them together somehow.”

“Oh, indeed!” said Edie sarcastically; but Guest was too intent upon his thoughts to notice her manner, and he went on dreamily:

“Of course, Stratton could not come here now.”

“I should not advise him to do so while uncle’s about.”

“No, of course not,” continued Guest. “But I was thinking whether it would be possible for Myra to go, of course with you, and—perhaps I could arrange it—catch him at his chambers. He would explain everything to her, I’m sure, and you see perhaps after all it may not be so bad.”

“Oh, no, perhaps not,” said Edie, with a sneering intonation which escaped Guest in his infatuation over his new idea for serving two people whom he esteemed. Then, unable to control herself, she burst out with: “Oh, how can people be so stupid? As if it were possible that Myra could ever speak to such a man again.”

It gradually dawned upon Guest that he had made a terrible blunder, and he went back to his chambers snubbed and fully determined never more to risk his position with Edie by trying to fight his friend’s battle and piece together the broken fibres of the suddenly disruptured skein.

He was no little surprised, then, some weeks later, after dining at the admiral’s and listening to several of the old man’s old sea stories, to find Edie, upon reaching the drawing room, revive the idea as they sat talking together in a low tone, while Myra played, and her father took his nap.

“Don’t talk about it,” he said softly. “Every man makes a fool of himself sometimes. I suppose I did then.”

“There does not seem to be much foolishness in trying to serve others,” whispered Edie.

“I say, don’t,” said Guest in a low tone after gazing wonderingly in his companion’s face. “You are laying a tra............