Thisdogseemstohavetakenafancytoyou。”
ForBalthasar，feelingthatshewasabouttoleave，wasrubbinghissideagainstherleg。Goingoutundertheporchwithher，hesaid：”He’llgetyouupinanhourandaquarter。Takethisforyourprotegees，”andheslippedachequeforfiftypoundsintoherhand。
Hesawherbrightenedeyes，andheardhermurmur：”OhUncleJolyon！”andarealthrobofpleasurewentthroughhim。Thatmeantoneortwopoorcreatureshelpedalittle，anditmeantthatshewouldcomeagain。Heputhishandinatthewindowandgraspedhersoncemore。Thecarriagerolledaway。Hestoodlookingatthemoonandtheshadowsofthetrees，andthought：’Asweetnight！She……！’
II
Twodaysofrain，andsummersetinblandandsunny。OldJolyonwalkedandtalkedwithHolly。Atfirsthefelttallerandfullofanewvigour；thenhefeltrestless。Almosteveryafternoontheywouldenterthecoppice，andwalkasfarasthelog。’Well，she’snotthere！’hewouldthink，’ofcoursenot！’Andhewouldfeelalittleshorter，anddraghisfeetwalkingupthehillhome，withhishandclappedtohisleftside。Nowandthenthethoughtwouldmoveinhim：’Didshecome——ordidIdreamit?’andhewouldstareatspace，whilethedogBalthasarstaredathim。Ofcourseshewouldnotcomeagain！HeopenedthelettersfromSpainwithlessexcitement。TheywerenotreturningtillJuly；hefelt，oddly，thathecouldbearit。Everydayatdinnerhescreweduphiseyesandlookedatwhereshehadsat。Shewasnotthere，soheunscrewedhiseyesagain。