she
knew she must be content with it.

"Then I have accomplished something and will remember the consideration
and patience you have shown," she said, and when some of the other
guests came in moved away to join them.

In the meanwhile, Millicent had been sitting alone for a few minutes at
the opposite end of the hall. Somebody was singing in the adjoining
drawing-room, the door of which stood open, and she could see several
people gathered about the piano, though she was herself partly secluded
by a screen. By and by Lieutenant Walters came in, and as he made his
way towards her after looking round she felt tempted to change her
place, but could not do so without making her retreat too marked. Now
and then he suffered from a relapse, and she felt compassionate as she
noticed the heaviness of his movements and his pinched expression.
Still his eyes had been eager as he searched the room, and this had
caused her some alarm, because he had lately shown a noticeable
preference for her society. When he stopped he laid his hand, as if
for support, on the back of a chair and glanced towards a window that
opened into the conservatory.

"I've been hanging about since dinner trying to get hold of you, but
you were in too great demand," he said. "Shall we slip out to the seat
among the palms yonder for a quiet talk?"

The conservatory looked inviting with the coloured lamps hanging among
the flowers and screens of trailing plants throwing their shadows
across warm, scented nooks. Walters, however, had framed his question
injudiciously, because it implied a mutual desire to escape observation
and confidential relations which did not exist.

"I think not," said Millicent. "I may be wanted."

"Mrs. Keith's talking to Challoner and won't ask for you," Walters
objected. "Be good-natured; it's quiet yonder. That fellow in the
drawing-room can't sing and the piano makes my head ache."

"It really oughtn't to. The girl who's accompanying him plays well,
but I'm afraid you're not feeling very fit to-night."

"I'm not; I suppose it's weak, but when I seem to be going back instead
of picking up, I get depressed. That's partly why I came for you; you
know how to cheer one."

"I feel flattered," Millicent rejoined, smiling. "But you shouldn't be
downcast. You're making excellent progress."

"Oh! well," he said irritably, "don't let us talk about my ailments;
I'm tired of them. But this light's glaring. Take pity on