"Oh, curse the book," he broke in, burying his face in his hands. The tears choked in his throat and burnt his close-pressed eyeballs. He hadn't known—why hadn't he known?—that it would be like this… . The room grew still. He heard a fly bang against the window and drop to the sill from the shock of its own impact. Outside was the confused murmur of the summer afternoon. Presently Mrs. Tarrant moved. She walked around the table, he felt the stir of her nearness, her hand rested on his shoulder. "Vance—don't. Remember, you've got your job; and you belong to it."

He did not move lest he should lose the shock of her light touch running through him like his blood. But to himself he groaned: "It's always the same way with you, you fool. You see only one thing at a time, and get into a frenzy about that, and nine times out of ten it's not the real thing you're chasing after but only something your brain has faked up."

Mrs. Tarrant went on in the same even tone. "Vance, are you listening to me? You must listen. Of course you must go on with your work here. You mustn't be disturbed—and you must have this atmosphere about you; I'll see to that—I'll arrange it." Still he did not answer; did not drop his hands or turn his head when he heard a slight click on the table at his elbow. "See, Vance, I'm leaving you the keys. Don't forget them. You can return them to me in New York when you bring me the finished book."

He did not move. She too was silent for a moment; then her hand was withdrawn. "Come—we must say good-bye, Vance."

He dropped his hands and leaned back, looking up at her. "I never thought about its ending," he muttered.

"But it isn't ending; why should it? You must stick to your job and carry it through; and then, when it's done, you'll be coming back regularly to the office—and I shall see you often, I hope… ."

"Not like this."

"This had been good, hasn't it? But when your book's done, that will be lots better; that will be the best that could happen… ."

"I don't care a curse about the book."

She stood looking down at him, and a faint smile stole to her lips. "You ought to, if you say we've done it together."