of a blow. Literally she could not speak; her heart seemed to stop
beating as she waited for his next word.

"People who choose the surer way have no doubt their own reward. The
pattern works out before their eyes, bit by bit, step by step, each
moment bringing with it the same satisfaction--no more, and no less.
When one dashes for the colours, as you and I have agreed to do to-day,
there is a time of blur and confusion, when the future is chaos, but
that time passes, and gives place to a moment when suddenly,
unexpectedly, the link is found... One link, an insignificant trifle,
such as I hold in my hand, and presto! all is made plain... The pieces
fit, chaos gives place to order, the picture is revealed. Then one can
work confidently at the background. It is no longer uninteresting. It
has its reason, its place."

His voice had still that new, deep tone; the sound of it, the look in
his eyes had a significance which could surely not refer only to a toy.
For one long, tingling moment the blue eyes and the grey held each
other, in a thrilling gaze, then they fell, and with swift, dramatic
touches Bedford proceeded to illustrate his words. The jagged fragment
held between finger and thumb fell into its rightful place, the great
block of pieces to the right turned upside down beneath a flattened hand
revealed an outline which fitted line for line, curve for curve, into
the block to the left; the combined mass showed unmistakable anchorages
for the small blocks scattered around. There revealed before Katrine's
eyes was the patch of sky, the line of the long red wall, the tangled
bank of lilies; there also was a long sweep of unbroken white which now
showed as a dress; a woman's dress, with a delicate hand half hidden
among the folds. More marvellous still, a glimpse of a delicate face
looked out from the enveloping folds of veil. Where in the name of
magic had that face managed to hide?

"It is a nun walking in a garden of lilies! What a pity she is a nun.
She looks too sweet to live alone!" said Bedford carelessly, "Now the
excitement is over, and we have all the grey bits to fill in. How
dull!" cried Katrine in her turn. If _he_ could be cool and calm, pride
forbade that she should lag behind. She took an early opportunity of
summoning Mrs Mannering to help in the construction of the picture, and
for the rest of the morning the conversation was strictly impersonal.

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN.

"We ha