"'Doctor Byrne,' she said, 'you are absolutely unique.'
"'It is a point,' I said earnestly, 'which I shall immediately set about
to change.'
"At this she raised both hands in a gesture of protest, so that I could
observe her eyes shining behind the slender, brown fingers--observe,
Loughburne, that white skin is falsely considered a thing of beauty in
women--and she remarked, still laughing: 'Indeed, you must not change!'
"I replied with an adroit change of front: 'Certainly not.'
"For some mysterious reason the girl was again convulsed and broke off
her laughter to cry in a voice of music which still tingles through me:
'Doctor Byrne, you are delightful!'
"I should gladly have heard her say more upon this point, but it being
one which I could not gracefully dispute with her, and being unwilling
that she should lapse into one of her usual silences, I ventured to
change the subject from myself to her.
"'Miss Cumberland,' I said, 'I remark with much pleasure that the
anxiety which has recently depressed you seems now in some measure
lessened. I presume Mr. Daniels will be successful in his journey,
though what the return of Mr. Daniels accompanied by Mr. Barry can
accomplish, is, I confess, beyond my computation. Yet you are happier in
the prospect of Mr. Barry's return?'
"I asked this question with a falling heart, though I remain ignorant of
the cause to which I can attribute my sudden depression.
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