TheyagreedthattheymustwritetoMr。andMrs。Marchatonce；oratleast，Agathasaid，assoonasshehadspokentoherfather。Athermentionofherfathershewasawareofadoubt，afear，inBurnamywhichexpresseditselfbyscarcelymorethanaspiritualconsciousnessfromhisarmtothehandswhichshehadclaspedwithinit。“Hehasalwaysappreciatedyou。”shesaidcourageously，“andIknowhewillseeitintherightlight。”
Sheprobablymeantnomorethantoaffirmherfaithinherownabilityfinallytobringherfathertoajustmindconcerningit；butBurnamyacceptedherassurancewithbuoyanthopefulness，andsaidhewouldseeGeneralTriscoethefirstthinginthemorning。
“No，Iwillseehim。”shesaid，“Iwishtoseehimfirst；hewillexpectitofme。Wehadbettergoin，now。”sheadded，butneithermadeanymotionforthepresenttodoso。Onthecontrary，theywalkedintheotherdirection，anditwasanhourafterAgathadeclaredtheirdutyinthematterbeforetheytriedtofulfilit。
Then，indeed，aftertheyreturnedtothehotel，shelostnotimeingoingtoherfatherbeyondthatwhichmustbegiventoalonghand-pressureunderthefrescoofthefivepoetsonthestairslanding，whereherwaysandBurnamy’sparted。Shewentintoherownroom，andsoftlyopenedthedoorintoherfather’sandlistened。
“Well？”hesaidinasortofchallengingvoice。