hining was the way to victory. Well, I have conquered whatever
it was which poisoned my brain for a while. I am absolutely myself again
now. Can't you believe it, Helen?"

The tears were running down her cheeks. She looked full into his earnest
eyes.

"Oh, Ronnie, you do look different! You do look your own dear self. Oh,
Ronnie, my own! But Dick is coming back to-morrow. He went up to town
only this morning. He will tell us what to do. Till then, don't you
think we had better just talk about the sea, and the little houses,
and--and how happy we are?"

"No, Helen," he said firmly. "We are not happy yet. I must know more.
How long is it since that evening in the studio?"

"About a month, darling. This is Christmas week. To-morrow will be
Christmas Eve."

Ronnie considered this in silence.

Then: "Let's walk up and down," he said. "It ought to be too cold to sit
about in Christmas week."

She rose and they walked along the sea-front together.

Ronnie glanced behind them. The man on the seat had risen also and was
following at a little distance.

"What cheek of that chap," he said. "He seems determined to overhear
our conversation. Shall I tell him to be off?"

"No, dear; please don't," she answered hurriedly. "He cannot possibly
overhear us."

Presently she dropped her muff and stooped to pick it up. But Ronnie
turned also, and saw her make a sign to the man following them, who at
once sat down on the nearest seat.

Then poor Ronnie knew.

"I suppose he is a keeper," he said.

"Oh, no, darling! He is only a trained attendant; just a sort of valet
for you. Such a nice man and so attentive. He brushes your clothes."

"I see," said Ronnie. "Valets are quite useful people. But they do not
as a rule sit reading in the middle of the morning, on the next seat to
their master and mistress! Do they? However, if Dick is coming
to-morrow, we can discuss the valet question with him. Take my arm,
Helen. I feel a bit shaky when I walk. Now tell me--why did we come
here?"

"They thought the change of scene, the perfect quiet, and the bracing
air might do wonders for you, Ronnie."

"Who were 'they'?"

"Dr. Dick and--a friend of his."

"I see. Well, I won't bully you into telling me things you are afraid I
ought not to know. But I will tell you just how much I _do_ know. It is
all a queer sort of black dream. I absolutely can't remember _seeing_
anything, until I found myself watching the sparkle of the ripples o