rld to my fond

thing left when

n-it sealed her friendship with Feathers, and in the

ould not eat and presents which she did not want. He was in and out of her room ceaselessly-a little too ceaselessly, t

and after a little hesitation the doctor told Chris frankly th

his handsom

any except me, and occasionally A

," he added with a deprecating smile. "She is not at all strong, and this unfortunate accid

to be more or less of an invalid. He had never had a day's sickness himself, and, like most men

to London?" he asked. 48 "Perhaps she

eply. "This East Coast air is just what is needed to brace

ie what the do

your room too often." He looked at her anx

. "I suppose the d

earth didn't she say so? It never occurred to him that since her accident Marie had suffered agonies because she fe

hen, as a child, she had fallen from the stable lof

kward, hands thrust into his pockets, staring

had asked gruffly by way of graceful acknowledgment, "How long have you

as she answered him, "I do

"It's topping out of doors!" he said unkind

of her illness, and afterwards he had told her that he hated sick

get well and strong. She made too

ime." he said. "Why

must be awful for Chris-having to wait about here jus

"Well, and what about you?" he aske

-oh, no! He's a man, you

. He walked away from her and came back,

y a

ve got tired of dancing attendance on you, anyway," he answ

lly dull for Chr

eathers when he looked in th

ul, and he never stayed more than about five minutes, but he always managed to brin

luntly. "Not he. Don't you worry, Mrs. Lawl

his spasmodic visits to her Chris

re was nothing better to do. He played billiards with anybody w

is afternoon?" Mar

me see! Well, I believe he

he doesn't stay indoor

ers f

er him," he promised. "You make haste and

't pla

learn-I'll teach you

but Chris says I'

ked away from her out of the window where a radiant sunse

speaking rather carefully, as if choosing his words. "I mean to say that he is a man

d face, and then she asked suddenly: "And do you e

eared his t

e as anxious to convince himself as he was to convince her. "You're

said sadly, "It's kind of you to say so,

red with distress. "What

ideal wife for a man in early Victorian days; that I was cut out to stay at home and make jams and bread and jangle keys on my cha

thy,' may I ask?"

sport! She could beat all the other girls at games, and s

ther a masculi

faint smile stole into her eyes. "She was another person who w

I stay any longer Chris will be on my

rossed her face. She loved to hear that Chris was anxious about

it was the doctor who said it,

arie disappo

lowing day, and Chris carried her out into the garden a

w," she said, looking up at him shy

e forgone being carried in his arms. The distance had seemed a

d and all the newest magazines in the other. He could not do enough for her.

ly. He always said the same thing every time

ed at his

ll, but they will persi

, but he had strolled away,

orrow," young Atkins said present

rs. Lawless, I may come and see

ant to-of

he was fully persuaded that he was in love now, and he never

er to Marie, and looke

never be afraid to ask me to do it!" he

e was not used to being made love to

omething you can do for me now, if yo

ie looked across the garden, hoping desperatel

riot and an elderly man and a little chill f

e asked herself, and closed her ey

ned! Supposing Feathers had

knew the folly of such a belief. He would have been sorry, of course, for

d Feathers beside her, and she l

ngry with me i

Am I ever an

ld be," she answ

Atkins had left. "Tell me, and

er husband, and then bac

at would have happened if you ha

er words with mock seriousness. "Well,

mean, what would have happened

e serious question at the back of her words, but his experi

e said briskly after a moment, "You are al

ard curves of her pretty mouth and the wistfulness of her eyes, and suddenly he realized that he had ina

is brain. Chris' fault or her own? He w

the sunshine. He looked very careless an

"Take this chair

s insisted, and as soon as Chris wa

aimlessly took up a paper,

and limitations, knew just how selfish he could

king. It was quiet in the lounge, and Feathers could hear what th

pose afterwards that they were unconscious of his pres

ng, isn't it? I don't suppose she has ever had so much attention in

answered interestedly. "By the way, which is her h

you mean to say you don't know! Wh

one. There is something in the way he looks at her . . . I can't explain! But if you ha

gripped the paper

men were! In love! He! Why, he had

wn, and, rising, stal

ooked after him

hink he heard?" the y

t laughed

nly civil to a woman." she said. "But it's really rather d