XIII

bent over and kissed her forehead. He came away, fondly looking back over his shoulder at her as he came. I left him in the drawing-room, and told Van Helsing that he had said goodbye; so the latter went to the kitchen to tell the undertaker’s men to proceed with the preparations and to screw up the coffin. When he came out of the room again I told him of Arthur’s question, and he replied:⁠— “I am not surprised. Just now I doubted for a moment myself!” We all dined together, and I could see that poor Art was trying to make the best of things. Van Helsing had been silent all dinnertime; but when we had lit our cigars he said⁠— “Lord⁠—”; but Arthur interrupted him:⁠— “No, no, not that, for God’s sake! not yet at any rate. Forgive me, sir: I did not mean to speak offensively; it is only because my loss is so recent.” The Professor answered very sweetly:⁠— “I only used that name because I was in doubt. I must not call you ‘ Mr. ,’ and I have grown to love you⁠—yes, my dear boy, to love you⁠—as Arthur.” Arthur held out his hand, and took the old man’s warmly. “Call me what you will,” he said. “I hope I may always have the title of a friend. And let me say that I am at a loss for words to thank you for your goodness to my poor dear.” He paused a moment, and went on: “I know that she understood your goodness even better than I do; and if I was rude or in any way wanting at that time you acted so⁠—you remember”⁠—the Professor nodded⁠—“you must forgive me.” He answered with a grave kindness:⁠— “I know it was hard for you to quite trust me then, for to trust such violence needs to understand; and I take it that you do not⁠—that you cannot⁠—trust me now, for you do not yet understand. And there may be more times when I shall want you to trust when you cannot⁠—and may not⁠—and