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flattened chest。 She sat very upright in her chair； listening with raised
eyebrows； and swinging her eye…glasses backwards and forwards with a
nervous gesture which was peculiar to her。
Suddenly she gave a sharp； satisfied jerk of the head； and began to
pour out the coffee。 From outside there came the dull thudding sound of
heavy feet upon thick carpet。 The door swung open； and the Professor
entered with a quick； nervous step。 He nodded to his sister； and seating
himself at the other side of the table； began to open the small pile of letters
which lay beside his plate。
Professor Ainslie Grey was at that time forty… three years of age
nearly twelve years older than his sister。 His career had been a brilliant
one。 At Edinburgh； at Cambridge； and at Vienna he had laid the
foundations of his great reputation； both in physiology and in zoology。
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His pamphlet； On the Mesoblastic Origin of Excitomotor Nerve Roots；
had won him his fellowship of the Royal Society； and his researches；
Upon the Nature of Bathybius； with some Remarks upon Lithococci； had
been translated into at least three European languages。 He had been
referred to by one of the greatest living authorities as being the very type
and embodiment of all that was best in modern science。 No wonder； then；
that when the commercial city of Birchespool decided to create a medical
school； they were only too glad to confer the chair of physiology upon Mr。
Ainslie Grey。 They valued him the more from the conviction that their
class was only one step in his upward journey； and that the first vacancy
would remove him to some more illustrious seat of learning。
In person he was not unlike his sister。 The same eyes； the same
contour； the same intellectual forehead。 His lips； however； were firmer；
and his long； thin； lower jaw was sharper and more decided。 He ran his
finger and thumb down it from time to time； as he glanced over his letters。
〃Those maids are very noisy；〃 he remarked； as a clack of tongues
sounded in the distance。
〃It is Sarah；〃 said his sister； 〃I shall speak about it。〃
She had handed over his coffee…cup； and was sipping at her own；
glancing furtively through her narrowed lids at the austere face of her
brother。
〃The first great advance of the human race；〃 said the Professor； 〃was
when； by the development of their left frontal convolutions； they attained
the power of speech。 Their second advance was when they learned to
control that power。 Woman has not yet attained the second stage。〃
He half closed his eyes as he spoke； and thrust his chin forward； but as
he ceased he had a trick of suddenly opening both eyes very wide and
staring sternly at his interlocutor。
〃I am not garrulous； John；〃 said his sister。
〃No； Ada； in many respects you approach the superior or male type。〃
The Professor bowed over his egg with the manner of one who utters a
courtly compliment； but the lady pouted； and gave an impatient little shrug
of her shoulders。
〃You were late this morning； John；〃 she remarked； after a pause。
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〃Yes； Ada； I slept badly。 Some little cerebral congestion； no doubt
due to over…stimulation of the centers of thought。 I have been a little
disturbed in my mind。〃
His sister stared across at him in astonishment。 The Professor's
mental processes had hitherto been as regular as his habits。 Twelve years'
continual intercourse had taught her that he lived in a serene and rarefied
atmosphere of scientific calm； high above the petty emotions which affect
humbler minds。
〃You are surprised； Ada；〃 he remarked。 〃Well； I cannot wonder at it。
I should have been surprised myself if I had been told that I was so
sensitive to vascular influences。 For； after all； all disturbances are
vascular if you probe them deep enough。 I am thinking of getting
married。〃
〃Not Mrs。 O'James〃 cried Ada Grey； laying down her egg…spoon。
〃My dear； you have the feminine quality of receptivity very
remarkably developed。 Mrs。 O'James is the lady in question。〃
〃But you know so little of her。 The Esdailes themselves know so
little。 She is really only an acquaintance； although she is staying at The
Lindens。 Would it not be wise to speak to Mrs。 Esdaile first； John？〃
〃I do not think； Ada； that Mrs。 Esdaile is at all likely to say anything
which would materially affect my course of action。 I have given the
matter due consideration。 The scientific mind is slow at arriving at
conclusions； but having once formed them； it is not prone to change。
Matrimony is the natural condition of the human race。 I have； as you
know； been so engaged in academical and other work； that I have had no
time to devote to merely personal questions。 It is different now； and I see
no valid reason why I should forego this opportunity of seeking a suitable
helpmate。〃
〃And you are engaged？〃
〃Hardly that； Ada。 I ventured yesterday to indicate to the lady that I
was prepared to submit to the common lot of humanity。 I shall wait upon
her after my morning lecture； and learn how far my proposals meet with
her acquiescence。 But you frown； Ada！〃
His sister started； and made an effort to conceal her expression of
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annoyance。 She even stammered out some few words of congratulation；
but a vacant look had come into her brother's eyes； and he was evidently
not listening to her。
〃I am sure； John； that I wish you the happiness which you deserve。 If
I hesitated at all； it is because I know how much is at stake； and because
the thing is so sudden； so unexpected。〃 Her thin white hand stole up to
the black cross upon her bosom。 〃These are moments when we need
guidance； John。