"And yet not everything--not half everything--is understood even now."
"Will you not tell me of this either?"
"Not to-night, mother. Not to-night. Another time, perhaps, I may. You know I had a week ago no intention of coming here to-day. I did not come to welcome Miss Grace. I had another reason for coming. I am trying an experiment to-night. At this moment I am putting the result of many anxious hours to the touch. If my experiment turns out well I shall come into a strange power. But there, I will say no more about it, for I must not explain, and it is not fair to tell you, all at once, that I have two secrets from you. And now, mother, it is very late for you. We must go to bed. That patent couch still enables you to do without aid in dressing?"
"Yes. I am still able to do without help. I think some of the springs want oiling. You will look at them to-morrow?"
"Yes. But it must be early. I am going back to town at noon."
"So soon? I did not think you would leave till later, Oscar. I don't want to pry into your secrets, but you spoke of gaining some strange powers. Do you think it wise to play with--with--with?"
"With what, mother?"
"With strange powers."
"That depends on what the strange powers are."
"But tell me there is no danger."