She stood close to him by the fire, with eyes that strayed from him to a picture, down to the fire again, and again back to him.

'It is late,' she said at length; 'I must go to bed, and so must you. I have got to go back to-morrow. I shall see you in the morning. Good-night.'

He lit a candle for her, and she went to the foot of the stairs, then paused a moment, with her back to him.

'You will stop to smoke another cigarette before you come up,' she said.

She heard him take a couple of steps inside the room she had just left, and then a vague sort of rustle.

'I have thrown them all into the fire,' said he.

'Oh, Charlie, how wasteful!' she cried, beginning to ascend the stairs; 'and how——' And she paused at the corner.

He appeared in the doorway on the instant.

'How?' he asked.

'Nothing.'