"What was it?"

"You said you were unhappy."

"Oh! yes, I was. So unhappy—I was thinking of it just now."

"And at present? Are you unhappy still?"

"You know I am not."

"I have been miserable, too, lately. Horribly miserable. I was ready to do I can't tell you what absurdities. Until your note came."

He stopped a moment, but she had nothing to say.

"It is a great comfort to have got so far," he went on, "but I suppose one is never satisfied. Now that I am not quite miserable, I should like to be quite happy."

Lucia could not help laughing, though she did so a little nervously.

"Don't be unreasonable," she said.