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 in turn would learn the realities of existence. She thought of Roger and the wind of human experience. She moved with a heavy twist.

Once she would have gotten up to let in the begging wind; now she felt that merely existing and letting this new life spring from her was enough. Footsteps paced the ceiling. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven; then back again, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one; and he was under his student lamp with Dante before him. She dozed.

The ticking of the French clock upon the mantel and the grandfather clock upon the stair...the ticking of her Swiss watch at her belt, and upstairs the ticking of Sears's big gold Gorham in his waistcoat pocket. One, two, three...a pause. A door opened and shut. His feet upon the stairs and he was beside her. She really heard his watch at last just above her ear, but was too sleepy to turn her head.

'Yes, dear?'

'I thought I would stop for a breathing spell. It must be past your bedtime.'

'Yes, far past.'

He moved restlessly about the room, and Lanice was dully annoyed because he seemed to have something on his mind.

'It is dark in here, Lanice.'

'I know; I like it dark.'

'And your fire is almost out.'

He seated himself upon the arm of her chair, but she moved, so he sat finally in the chair with her in his arms.