Shewouldgobacktoherstudioandpreparepicturesthatwent，etc。，etc。
Themill-wheelofthoughtswungroundslowly，thatnosectionofitmightbeslurredover，andthered-hairedgirltossedandturnedbehindher。
MaisieputherchininherhandsanddecidedthattherecouldbenodoubtwhateverofthevillainyofDickTojustifyherself，shebegan，unwomanly，toweightheevidenceTherewasaboy，andhehadsaidhelovedherAndhekissedher，——kissedheronthecheek，——byayellowsea-poppythatnoddeditsheadexactlylikethemaddeningdryroseinthegardenThentherewasaninterval，andmenhadtoldherthattheylovedher——justwhenshewasbusiestwithherworkThentheboycameback，andattheirverysecondmeetinghadtoldherthathelovedher。
Thenhehad——ButtherewasnoendtothethingshehaddoneHehadgivenherhistimeandhispowersHehadspokentoherofArt，housekeeping，technique，teacups，theabuseofpicklesasastimulant，——thatwasrude，——sablehair-brushes，——hehadgivenherthebestinherstock，——sheusedthemdaily；hehadgivenheradvicethatsheprofitedby，andnowandagain——alookSuchalook！Thelookofabeatenhoundwaitingforthewordtocrawltohismistress’sfeetInreturnshehadgivenhimnothingwhatever，except——hereshebrushedhermouthagainsttheopen-worksleevefhernightgown——theprivilegeofkissingheronceAndonthemouth，tooDisgraceful！Wasthatnotenough，andmorethanenough？andifitwasnot，hadhenotcancelledthedebtbynotwritingand——probablykissingothergirls？
’Maisie，you’llcatchachillDogoandliedown，’saidtheweariedvoiceofhercompanion’Ican’tsleepawinkwithyouatthewindow。’
MaisieshruggedhershouldersanddidnotanswerShewasreflectingonthemeannessesofDick，andonothermeannesseswithwhichhehadnothingtodoThemoonlightwouldnotlethersleepItlayontheskylightofthestudioacrosstheroadincoldsilver；shestaredatitintentlyandherthoughtsbegantoslideoneintotheotherTheshadowofthebigbell-handleinthewallgrewshort，lengthenedagain，andfadedoutasthemoonwentdownbehindthepastureandaharecamelimpinghomeacrosstheroadThenthedawn-windwashedthroughtheuplandgrasses，andbroughtcoolnesswithit，andthecattlelowedbythedrought-shrunkriverMaisie’sheadfellforwardonthewindow-sill，andthetangleofblackhaircoveredherarms。
’Maisie，wakeupYou’llcatchachill。’
’Yes，dear；yes，dear。’Shestaggeredtoherbedlikeaweariedchild，andassheburiedherfaceinthepillowsshemuttered，’Ithink——Ithink……
Butheoughttohavewritten。’
Daybroughttheroutineofthestudio，thesmellofpaintandturpentine，andthemonotonewisdomofKami，whowasaleadenartist，butagoldenteacherifthepupilwereonlyinsympathywithhimMaisiewasnotinsympathythatday，andshewaitedimpatientlyfortheendofthework。
Sheknewwhenitwascoming；forKamiwouldgatherhisblackalpacacoatintoabunchbehindhim，and，withfadedflueeyesthatsawneitherpupilsnorcanvas，lookbackintothepasttorecallthehistoryofoneBinat’Youhavealldonenotsobadly，’hewouldsay’Butyoushallrememberthatitisnotenoughtohavethemethod，andtheart，andthepower，noreventhatwhichistouch，butyoushallhavealsotheconvictionthatnailstheworktothewallOfthesomanyI
taught，’——herethestudentswouldbegintounfixdrawing-pinsorgettheirtubestogether，——’theverysomanythatIhavetaught，thebestwasBinat。
AllthatcomesofthestudyandtheworkandtheknowledgewastohimevenwhenhecameAfterheleftmeheshouldhavedoneallthatcouldbedonewiththecolour，theform，andtheknowledgeOnly，hehadnottheconvictionSoto-dayIhearnomoreofBinat，——thebestofmypupils，——andthatislongagoSoto-day，too，youwillbegladtohearnomoreofmeContinuez，mesdemoiselles，and，aboveall，withconviction。’
HewentintothegardentosmokeandmournoverthelostBinatasthepupilsdispersedtotheirseveralcottagesorloiteredinthestudiotomakeplansforthecooloftheafternoon。
MaisielookedatherveryunhappyMelancolia，restrainedadesiretogrimacebeforeit，andwashurryingacrosstheroadtowritealettertoDick，whenshewasawareofalargemanonawhitetroop-horse。
HowTorpenhowhadmanagedinthecourseoftwentyhourstofindhiswaytotheheartsofthecavalryofficersinquartersatVitry-sur-Marne，todiscusswiththemthecertaintyofagloriousrevengeforFrance，toreducethecoloneltotearsofpureaffability，andtoborrowthebesthorseinthesquadronforthejourneytoKami’sstudio，isamysterythatonlyspecialcorrespondentscanunravel。
’Ibegyourpardon，’saidhe’Itseemsanabsurdquestiontoask，butthefactisthatIdon’tknowherbyanyothername：IsthereanyyoungladyherethatiscalledMaisie？’
’IamMaisie，’wastheanswerfromthedepthsofagreatsun-hat。
’Ioughttointroducemyself，’hesaid，asthehorsecaperedintheblindingwhitedust’MynameisTorpenhowDickHeldarismybestfriend，and——and——thefactisthathehasgoneblind。’
’Blind！’saidMaisie，stupidly’Hecan’tbeblind。’
’Hehasbeenstone-blindfornearlytwomonths。’
Maisieliftedupherface，anditwaspearlywhite’No！No！Notblind！I
won’thavehimblind！’
’Wouldyoucaretoseeforyourself？’saidTorpenhow。
’Now，——atonce？’
’Oh，no！TheParistraindoesn’tgothroughthisplacetillto-night。
Therewillbeampletime。’
’DidMrHeldarsendyoutome？’
’CertainlynotDickwouldn’tdothatsortofthingHe’ssittinginhisstudio，turningoversomelettersthathecan’treadbecausehe’sblind。’
Therewasasoundofchokingfromthesun-hatMaisiebowedherheadandwentintothecottage，wherethered-hairedgirlwasonasofa，complainingofaheadache。
’Dick’sblind！’saidMaisie，takingherbreathquicklyasshesteadiedherselfagainstachair-back’MyDick’sblind！’
’What？’Thegirlwasonthesofanolonger。
’AmanhascomefromEnglandtotellmeHehasn’twrittentomeforsixweeks。’
’Areyougoingtohim？’
’Imustthink。’
’Think！IshouldgobacktoLondonandseehimandIshouldkisshiseyesandkissthemandkissthemuntiltheygotwellagain！Ifyoudon’tgoI
shallOh，whatamItalkingabout？Youwickedlittleidiot！GotohimatonceGo！’
Torpenhow’sneckwasblistering，buthepreservedasmileofinfinitepatienceasMaisie’sappearedbareheadedinthesunshine。
’Iamcoming，’saidshe，hereyesontheground。
’YouwillbeatVitryStation，then，atseventhisevening。’ThiswasanorderdeliveredbyonewhowasusedtobeingobeyedMaisiesaidnothing，butshefeltgratefulthattherewasnochanceofdisputingwiththisbigmanwhotookeverythingforgrantedandmanagedasquealinghorsewithonehandShereturnedtothered-hairedgirl，whowasweepingbitterly，andbetweentears，kisses，——veryfewofthose，——menthol，packing，andaninterviewwithKami，thesultryafternoonworeaway。
ThoughtmightcomeafterwardsHerpresentdutywastogotoDick，——Dickwhoownedthewondrousfriendandsatinthedarkplayingwithherunopenedletters。
’Butwhatwillyoudo，’shesaidtohercompanion。
’I？Oh，Ishallstayhereand——finishyourMelancolia，’shesaid，smilingpitifully’Writetomeafterwards。’
ThatnightthereranalegendthroughVitry-sur-MarneofamadEnglishman，doubtlesssufferingfromsunstroke，whohaddrunkalltheofficersofthegarrisonunderthetable，hadborrowedahorsefromthelines，andhadthenandthereeloped，aftertheEnglishcustom，withoneofthosemoremadEnglishgirlswhodrewpicturesdownthereunderthecareofthatgoodMonsieurKami。
’Theyareverydroll，’saidSuzannetotheconscriptinthemoonlightbythestudiowall’Shewalkedalwayswiththosebigeyesthatsawnothing，andyetshekissesmeonbothcheeksasthoughsheweremysister，andgivesme——see——tenfrancs！’
Theconscriptleviedacontributiononbothgifts；forhepridedhimselfonbeingagoodsoldier。
TorpenhowspokeverylittletoMaisieduringthejourneytoCalais；buthewascarefultoattendtoallherwants，togetheracompartmententirelytoherself，andtoleaveheraloneHewasamazedoftheeasewithwhichthematterhadbeenaccomplished。
’ThesafestthingwouldbetoletherthinkthingsoutByDick’sshowing，——whenhewasoffhishead，——shemusthaveorderedhimaboutverythoroughlyWonderhowshelikesbeingunderorders。’
MaisienevertoldShesatintheemptycompartmentoftenwithhereyesshut，thatshemightrealisethesensationofblindnessItwasanorderthatsheshouldreturntoLondonswiftly，andshefoundherselfatlastalmostbeginningtoenjoythesituationThiswasbetterthanlookingafterluggageandared-hairedfriendwhonevertookanyinterestinhersurroundingsButthereappearedtobeafeelingintheairthatshe，Maisie，——ofallpeople，——wasindisgraceThereforeshejustifiedherconducttoherselfwithgreatsuccess，tillTorpenhowcameuptoheronthesteamerandwithoutprefacebegantotellthestoryofDick’sblindness，suppressingafewdetails，butdwellingatlengthonthemiseriesofdeliriumHestoppedbeforehereachedtheend，asthoughhehadlostinterestinthesubject，andwentforwardtosmokeMaisiewasfuriouswithhimandwithherself。
ShewashurriedonfromDovertoLondonalmostbeforeshecouldaskforbreakfast，and——shewaspastanyfeelingofindignationnow——wasbiddencurtlytowaitinahallatthefootofsomelead-coveredstairswhileTorpenhowwentuptomakeinquiriesAgaintheknowledgethatshewasbeingtreatedlikeanaughtylittlegirlmadeherpalecheeksflameItwasallDick’sfaultforbeingsostupidastogoblind。
Torpenhowledheruptoashutdoor，whichheopenedverysoftly。
Dickwassittingbythewindow，withhischinonhischestTherewerethreeenvelopesinhishand，andheturnedthemoverandoverThebigmanwhogaveorderswasnolongerbyherside，andthestudiodoorsnappedbehindher。
Dickthrustthelettersintohispocketasheheardthesound’Hullo，Topr！Isthatyou？I’vebeensolonely。’
HisvoicehadtakenthepeculiarflatnessoftheblindMaisiepressedherselfupintoacorneroftheroomHerheartwasbeatingfuriously，andsheputonehandonherbreasttokeepitquietDickwasstaringdirectlyather，andsherealisedforthefirsttimethathewasblind。
Shuttinghereyesinarail-waycarriagetoopenthemwhenshepleasedwaschild’splayThismanwasblindthoughhiseyeswerewideopen。
’Torp，isthatyou？Theysaidyouwerecoming。’Dicklookedpuzzledandalittleirritatedatthesilence。
’No；it’sonlyme，’wastheanswer，inastrainedlittlewhisper。
Maisiecouldhardlymoveherlips。
’H’m！’saidDick，composedly，withoutmoving’ThisisanewphenomenonDarknessI’mgettingusedto；butIobjecttohearingvoices。’
Washemad，then，aswellasblind，thathetalkedtohimself？
Maisie’sheartbeatmorewildly，andshebreathedingaspsDickroseandbegantofeelhiswayacrosstheroom，touchingeachtableandchairashepassedOncehecaughthisfootonarug，andswore，droppingonhiskneestofeelwhattheobstructionmightbeMaisierememberedhimwalkingintheParkasthoughalltheearthbelongedtohim，trampingupanddownherstudiotwomonthsago，andflyingupthegangwayoftheChannelsteamerThebeatingofherheartwasmakinghersick，andDickwascomingnearer，guidedbythesoundofherbreathingSheputoutahandmechanicallytowardhimoffortodrawhimtoherself，shedidnotknowwhichIttouchedhischest，andhesteppedbackasthoughhehadbeenshot。
’It’sMaisie！’saidhe，withadrysob’Whatareyoudoinghere？’
’Icame——Icame——toseeyou，please。’
Dick’slipsclosedfirmly。
’Won’tyousitdown，then？Yousee，I’vehadsomebotherwithmyeyes，and——’
’IknowIknowWhydidn’tyoutellme？’
’Icouldn’twrite。’
’YoumighthavetoldMrTorpenhow。’
’Whathashetodowithmyaffairs？’
’He——hebroughtmefromVitry-sur-MarneHethoughtIoughttoseeyou。’
’Why，whathashappened？CanIdoanythingforyou？No，Ican’tI
forgot。’
’Oh，Dick，I’msosorry！I’vecometotellyou，and——Letmetakeyoubacktoyourchair。’
’Don’t！I’mnotachildYouonlydothatoutofpityInevermeanttotellyouanythingaboutitI’mnogoodnowI’mdownanddonefor。
Letmealone！’