"No."

"A revolving follower."

Jean saw her opportunity.

"I suppose people are very like planets," she said. "They must all have a centre round which they revolve."

Dr. Fergusson looked at her rather keenly.

"It's a good thing to know what our centre is."

"I should think it was generally the same in every case," said Jean flippantly. "Myself is my centre; isn't it yours?"

The doctor did not answer. He left the piano and came and stood behind her.

"You are managing your firelight well," he said.

Jean's brush stopped working.