going back home to-night. Your six months' sentence isn't quite up yet,
is it? Is it business that brings you?"

"What do you call business? Of course I've come," said he, "only to see
you."

He went on, after a glorious pause: "And this is the second time--or is
it the fourth or fifth? Did you happen to hear of me at Eva Payne's
in January?"

"Oh, yes! Only not till four hours after you were gone."

"You'd hardly guess, though, how I've been torn between my--wish, and
what it pleases me to call my pride.... I was in Florida and going on to
Cuba for February, at least, by special request of Heber. I thought I
should like to see you again before I got so far away. Only when I came
in sight of your door once more, I couldn't bring myself to knock...."

One interesting coincidence about the reasoning of beautiful ladies is
that it is sometimes right. Continuing as they swung up the crowded
street, Canning said:

"It seemed to me that ... However, that's no matter now. Unfortunately
I've the devil's own temper. To be packed off so, and then to surrender
without a condition--I needed more weeks of silent self-communion for
that. I've had them now, under pretty skies where the moon shines bright
o' nights. I believe the breezes have blown my humors away. I'm happy to
be here with you, Carlisle."

"I like it, too.... How on earth did you ever find me?"