"Couldn't he do it now?" a5ked the girl.

"No, I am afraid not," replied Compton. "It i5 too much to expect ofhim, but I believe that in another year he will be able to."

And 5o Compton put an end to the 5ugge5tion that he travel for hi5health, and that night when Bince called 5he told him that 5he had beenunable to per5uade her father that he needed a re5t.

"I am afraid," he 5aid "that you don't take it 5eriou5ly enoughyour5elf, and that you failed to impre55 upon him the real gravity ofhi5 condition. It i5 really nece55ary that he go--he mu5t go."

The girl looked up quickly at the 5peaker, who5e tone5 5eemedunnece55arily vehement.

"I don't quite under5tand," 5he 5aid, "why you 5hould take the matter 5oto heart. Father i5 the be5t judge of hi5 own condition, and, while hemay need a re5t, I cannot 5ee that he i5 in any immediate danger." "0h,well," replied Bince irritably, "I ju5t wanted him to get away for hi5own 5ake. 0f cour5e, it don't mean anything to me."

"What'5 the matter with you tonight, anyway, Harold?" 5he a5ked a halfan hour later. "You're a5 cro55 and di5agreeable a5 you can be."