End of the State of Indecision 223

something in his palm. His hand closed instinc-
tively when he heard the door open, but Gavin
had seen that the object was an open locket.

“It was only your reference to the thing,” the
detected doctor said, with a grim laugh, “that
made me open it. Forty years ago, sir, [—
Phew! it is forty-two years, and I have not got
over it yet.” Heclosed the locket with a snap.
“J hope you have come back, Dishart, to speak
more rationally?”

Gavin told him why he had come back, and
the doctor said he was a fool for his pains.

“Tt is useless, Dishart, to make another appeal
to you?”

“Quite useless, doctor,” Gavin answered,
promptly. ‘“ My mind is made up at last.”