young lady, your Grace," he announced, "who has been waiting
to see you for half an hour. Her name is Miss Phillimore."

"Where is she?" Berenice asked.

"In the library, your Grace."

"Show her into my own room," Berenice said, "I will see her at once."

Hester was a little nervous, but Berenice set her immediately at her ease
by the graciousness of her manner. They talked for some time of Bonestre.
Then there was a moment's pause. Hester summoned up her courage.

"I am afraid," she said, "that you may consider what I am going to say
rather a liberty. I've thought it all out, and I decided to come to you.
I couldn't see any other way."

Berenice smiled encouragingly.

"I will promise you," she said, "that I will consider it nothing of the
sort."

"That is very kind of you," Hester said. "I have come here because Mr.
Mannering is the greatest friend I have in the world. He stands to me for
all the relatives most girls have, and I am very fond of him indeed. I
scarcely remember my father, but Mr. Mannering was always kind to me when
I was a child. You know, perhaps, that I am living with him now as his
secretary?"

Berenice nodded pleasantly.

"I see him every day," Hester continued, "and I notice things. He has
changed a great deal during the last few years. I am getting very anxious
about him."

"He is not ill, I hope?" Berenice asked. "I too noticed a change. It
grieved me very much."

"He is simply working himself to death," Hester continued, "without
relaxation or pleasure of any sort. And all the time he is unhappy. Other
men, however hard they work, have their hobbies and their occasional
holidays. He has neither. And I think that I know why. He fights all the
time to forget."

"To forget what?" Berenice asked, slowly turning her head.

"To forget how near he came once to being very happy," Hester answered,
boldly. "To forget--you!"

Then her heart sang a little song of triumph, for she saw the instant
change in the still, cold face turned now a little away from her. She saw
the proud lips tremble and the unmistakable light leap out from the dark
eyes. She saw the colour rush into the cheeks, and she had no more fear.
She rose from her chair and dropped on one knee by Berenice's side.

"Make him happy, please," she begged. "You can do it. You only! He loves
you!"

Berenice smiled, although her eyes were wet with tears. She laid her
long, delicate fingers upon the other's hand.

"But, my dea