He managed to keep up at least the appearance of being closely engaged, turning the leaves of books, making notes, arising to consult other books upon the shelves.  But he could not resist frequent furtive glances at the profile outlined against the window.  It was a distracting outline, it must be freely admitted.  Even upon the hill, seen against the blue-and-purple haze, it had hardly been more so.  What indeed could a young man do but steal a look at it as often as he might?  There was no knowing when he should have such another chance.

Things proceeded in this course without interruption until eleven o’clock.  The Judge, finding it possible to get ahead so satisfactorily by this new method, decided to send on considerably more material to be passed upon by his critical coadjutor at the Capitol than he had originally intended to do at this time.  But as the clock struck the hour a caller’s card was sent in to him, and with a word to Roberta he left the room to see his visitor elsewhere.

Roberta finished her paragraph, then sat studying the next one.  She did not look up, nor did Richard.  The moments passed and the Judge did not return.  Roberta rose and threw open the window beside her, letting in a great sweep of December air.

Richard seized his opportunity.  “Good for you!” he applauded.  “Shall I open mine?”

“Please.  It will warm up again very quickly.  It began to seem stifling.”

“Not much like the place where you want to build a cabin and stay alone in a storm.  Or—­not alone.  You are willing to have a dog with you.  What sort of a dog?”

“A Great Dane, I think.  I have a friend who owns one.  They are inseparable.”

By the worst of luck the Judge chose this moment to return, and the windows went down with a rush.

The Judge shivered, smiling at the pair.  “You young things, all warmth and vitality!  You are never so happy as when the wind is lifting your hair.  Now I think I’m pretty vigorous for my years, but I wouldn’t sit and talk in a room with two open windows, in December.”

“Neither can we—­hang it!” thought Richard.  “Why couldn’t that chap have stayed a few minutes longer—­when we’d just got started?”

At luncheon-time Roberta’s part in the work was not completed.  Her uncle asked for two hours more of her time and she cheerfully promised it.  So at two o’clock the stage was again set as a business office, the actors again engaged in their parts.  But at three the situation was abruptly changed.

“I believe there are no more revisions to be made,” declared Judge Gray with a sigh of weariness.  “I have taxed you heavily, my dear, but if you are equal to finishing these eleven sheets for me by yourself I shall be grateful.  My eyes have reached the limit of endurance, even with all the help you have given me.  I must go to my room.”

He paused by Richard’s desk on his way out.  “Have you finished the abstract of the chapter on Judge Cahill?” he asked.  “No?  I thought you would perhaps have covered that this morning.  But—­I do not mean to exact too much.  It will be quite satisfactory if you can complete it this afternoon.”