To return to Derrick Dene. When Isabel had left the van he lay, with a

frown on his face, thinking sadly and troubled by a somewhat

unreasonable remorse. He was not a vain man, but he knew that, all

unwittingly, he had gained the love of this dark-browed, passionate

girl. She was very beautiful; she had nursed him with the tenderness of

a sister, a mother, a wife. Why should he not accept the gift which the

gods were offering him? Why should he not make her his wife? Even as he

put the question, the answer rose to confront him. He was in love with

another woman, a girl he had seen once or twice only in his life--the

girl at Brown's Buildings.

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It was absurd, of course. He might never meet her again; it was more

than probable that by this time some other man had discovered so great a

prize; she might be engaged, married. The chances were that, though he

had thought of her every day since he had left her, she had well-nigh

forgotten him, or, at the best, thought of him as a foolish young man

who had sacrificed himself for a mistaken sense of chivalry, the man

whom she, a slip of a girl, had saved from suicide. Why, he told

himself, any feeling she must have for him must be that of contempt. All

the same, he loved her, and therefore this other woman could be nothing

to him.

The doctor and Mr. Bloxford came to see him; Bloxford full of impish

delight and satisfaction at Derrick's recovery, and full also of threats

of what he, Bloxford, would do if ever he came across the cause of

Derrick's "accident."

An hour later Derrick had another visitor. It was Sidcup. Derrick liked

the man; for, notwithstanding his harmless vanity, he was a decent sort,

and the courage he displayed in his performance won Derrick's

admiration. Sidcup came in and stood beside the bunk, and looked down at

Derrick with a grim countenance, and he did not offer to shake hands.

"You're better, Green?" he said. "Do you think you're well enough to

have a little talk? Don't say so, if you're not; but I want to have a

word or two with you rather badly."

"I'm all right," said Derrick. "Fire away! It's awfully good of you to

come and see me."

"I dunno," said Sidcup, moodily. "I came on my own account--and

another's. Look here, Green; it's about Isabel. I want to have it out

with you."




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