"You! And I--I never guessed it! Oh, forgive me! forgive me! Then indeed

there never was any hope for me. I understand! How blind I have been!

Who----No; I've no right to ask. Now I understand the look in your eyes

which has often haunted and puzzled me. Oh, what a blind, blundering

fool I have been all this time!"

"Hush!" she said, still so low that he could only just hear the broken

murmur. "I--I am glad you did not know. I--I would not have told you

now, if--if it were not all past and done with!"

"Nell!" he said.

"Yes, it is all past and done with," she repeated. "And--and I want to

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forget it. I want you--to help me! Oh! must I speak more plainly? Won't

you understand? If you will be content to take me--knowing what I have

told you--if you will be content to wait until I--I have quite

forgotten! and I shall soon, very soon----"

He stretched out his hand to her, an eager cry on his lips.

"Content!" he said. "You ask me if I shall be content!"

Then, as she put out her hand to meet his, he saw her face. It was white

to the lips, and there was a look in her eyes more full of agony than

his own had worn at his worst times. He let his hand fall on the bed.

"Is it all past?" he asked doubtfully.

She was about to speak the word "Yes," when a voice came from below

through the open window. It was Drake talking to Dick. The blood flew to

her face, her brows came together, and she shrank as if some one had

struck her.

Falconer, with his eyes fixed upon her, heard the voice, saw the change

on her face. The light died out of his eyes, and slowly, very slowly, he

drew his hand back.

Nell stood looking before her, her lips set tightly, her eyes downcast.

It was a terrible moment, in which she appeared under a spell so deep as

to cause her to forget the presence of the man beside her. And, as he

watched her, the life seemed to die out of his face as well as his eyes.

The door opened, and Dick came in.

"Drake's come to inquire after the patient," he said. "How are we,

Falconer?"

"Better," said Falconer, with a smile; "much better. Couldn't you

persuade Miss Lorton to take down the report, Dick?"




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