"Then why did you suddenly begin to work?"

"Because I lost my prospects, Miss Granger--from necessity, in short."

"Oh, I beg your pardon!" she said, with a blush, which of course he
could not see. "I did not mean to be rude. But it is very lucky for you,
is it not?"

"Indeed! Some people don't think so. Why is it lucky?"

"Because you will now rise and become a great man, and that is more than
being a rich man."

"And why do you think that I shall become a great man?" he asked,
stopping paddling in his astonishment and looking at the dim form before
him.

"Oh! because it is written on your face," she answered simply.

Her words rang true; there was no flattery or artifice in them. Geoffrey
felt that the girl was saying just what she thought.

"So you study physiognomy as well," he said. "Well, Miss Granger, it is
rather odd, considering all things, but I will say to you what I have
never said to any one before. I believe that you are right. I shall
rise. If I live I feel that I have it in me."

At this point it possibly occurred to Beatrice that, considering
the exceeding brevity of their acquaintance, they were drifting into
somewhat confidential conversation. At any rate, she quickly changed the