is."

He heard her go down the hall and knock at another door. She was
compelled to knock twice, and then there was delay before the door
opened.

He drew some pages of manuscript before him and affected to be busy at a
work of revision, crossing out a word here, interlining one there,
scanning the result with undivided attention.

When he heard a knock he did not look up, but said, "Come!" Though still
intent at his work, he knew that Nancy stood there, looking from the
letter to him.

"Nora said you sent this letter to me--it's for Bernal--"

He answered, still without looking up,

"I thought he might be with you, or that you might know where he was."

"I don't."

He knew that she studied the superscription of the envelope.

"Well, leave it here on my desk till he comes. I sent it to you only
because I heard him inquiring if a letter had not come for him--he
seemed rather anxious about some letter--troubled, in fact--doubtless
some business affair. I hoped this might be what he was expecting."

His eyes were still on the page before him, and he crossed out a word