ment!" said Max.

But it was many moments before he laid her hand down.

"You will be all right when you have eaten something," he said then,
"and had another sleep. Is there something you want to say to me?"

His tone was kind, but his manner repressive. She wished the light had
not been so dim upon his face.

"Max," she said, with an effort, "why--why did you close the door?"

She fancied he smiled, grimly humorous, at the question. She was sure
his eyes gleamed mockery. He was silent for a space, and then: "Ask me
some other time!" he said.

She breathed a sigh of disappointment. She knew she would never have the
courage.

He waited a few seconds more, then as she remained silent he laid his
hand again on hers and pressed it lightly.

"Good-night!" he said.

She scarcely responded, nor did he wait for her to respond. In another
moment he had turned from her, and was talking in a low voice to Nick.

A minute later he went softly out, and she saw no more of him that
night.

Nick remained for some little time longer, waiting on her with the
tenderness of a woman. It was wonderful to note how little his infirmity
hampered him. There were very few things that Nick could not accomplish
with one hand as quickly as the rest of the world with two.

But Olga, having recovered the full possession of her faculties, would
not permit him to sacrifice any more of his night's rest to her.

"I shall be perfectly all right," she declared. "If I'm not, you are
only in the next room, and I can rap on the wall."

"Yes, but will you?" said Nick.

"Of course I will."

"Is it a promise?"

She caught his hand and kissed it. "Yes, dear Nick, a promise."

"All right," said Nick. "I'll go."

But he was obviously loth to leave her, and she detained him to assure
him how greatly she loved to be in his care.

"Max tells me I am not in the least fitted to look after you," he said
rather ruefully, "and I believe he's right."

The humility of this speech was so extraordinary that it nearly took
Olga's breath away.

"My dear Nick," she said, "what nonsense! Surely you
don't--seriously--care what Max says?"

"Don't you?" said Nick.

She began to answer in the negative, but tripped up unexpectedly. "I--I
can't quite say. I haven't really thought about it. But--anyhow--it's no
business of his, is it?"

"He thinks it is," said Nick.

"Why?" She suddenly put out her hand to him with a little shiver. "Nick,
you haven't tol