at would come later; and besides
no beauty of one born of woman could outmatch the memorised beauty which
had so long held his heart. But that he had so schooled himself in long
months of gloomy despair, he would have taken her in his arms there and
then; and, heedless of the presence of others, have poured out his full
heart to her.

Mrs. Stonehouse saw and understood. So too Pearl, who though a child was
a woman-child; softly they rose up to steal away. But Stephen saw them;
her own instincts, too, told her that her hour had not come. What she
hoped for must come alone! So she called to her guests:

'Don't go! Don't go, Mrs. Stonehouse. You know now that Harold and I
are old friends, though neither of us knew it--till this moment. We were
brought up as . . . almost as brother and sister. Pearl, isn't it lovely
to see your friend . . . to see The Man again?'

She was so happy that she could only express herself, with dignity,
through the happiness of others.

Pearl actually shrieked with joy as she rushed across the room and flung
herself into Harold's arms as he stooped to her. He raised her; and she
kissed him again and again, and put her little hands all over his face
and stroked, very, very gently, his eyes, and said:

'Oh, I am so glad! And so glad your poor eyes are unbind again! May I
call you Harold, too?'

'You darling!' was all he could say as he kissed her, and holding her in
one arm went across and shook hands with Mrs. Stonehouse, who wrung his
hand hard.

There was a little awkwardness in the group, for none of them knew what
would be best to do next. In the midst of it there came a light knock at
the door, and Mr. Hilton entered saying:

'They told me you wished to see me at once--Hulloa!' He rushed across
the room and took Harold by the shoulders, turning his face to the light.
He looked in his eyes long and earnestly, the others holding their
breaths. Presently he said, without relaxing his gaze:

'Did you see mistily at first?'

'Yes.'

'Seeing at the periphery; but the centre being opaque?'

'Yes! How did you know? Why, I couldn't see'--see pointing to
Stephen--'Lady de Lannoy; though her face was right in front of me!'

Dr. Hilton took his hands from his patient's shoulders and shook him
warmly by both hands:-

'I am glad, old fellow! It was worth waiting for, wasn't it? But I say,
it was a dangerous thing to take off those bandages before I permitted.
However, i