ow, he could not. He went over to where he sat and laid
a kind hand on his shoulder.

"Don't give up yet, boy." At that moment he felt years older than his
friend. "There may be some mistake. Don't let's give up till we're
sure--quite sure----"

Jimmy raised his face. His lips were grey and pinched.

"It's no use," he said hopelessly. "No use. . . . Somehow I know
it. . . . Oh, my God! If I could only have it over again--just a
day. . . ." The anguish in his voice would have wrung a harder heart
than Sangster's. For a moment there was unbroken silence in the room.
Then Jimmy struggled to his feet.

"I must go after her. She won't come back, I know. But at least I can
try. . . . It may not be too late---- Kettering--damn him! . . ." He
broke off. He stood for a moment swaying to and fro.

Sangster caught his arm.

"You're not fit to go. Let me. . . . I'll do all I can. . . I give
you my word of honour that I'll move heaven and earth to find her. And
we may be mistaken. We may. . . ." He broke off. Someone had knocked
softly on the door. For a moment neither of them answered, then the
handle was softly turned, and Christine stood there on the
threshold. . . .

Sangster caught his breath hard in his throat. He looked at her, and
he had to hold himself back with an iron hand to keep from rushing to
her, from falling at her feet in abasement for the very real doubt and
dread that he had cherished against her.

She looked so young--such a child, and her brown eyes were so sweet and
shy as she looked at Jimmy--never at him. He realised it with a little
stabbing pain that it was not once at him that she looked, but past
him, to where Jimmy stood like a man turned to stone.

Then: "Christine," said Jimmy Challoner with a great cry.

He put out his hand and touched her, almost as if he doubted that she
was real. His breath was coming fast; he was ashen pale.

"Christine," he said again in a whisper.

Sangster moved past him. He did not look at Christine any more. He
walked to the door and opened it. He hesitated a moment, wondering if
either of them would see him going, be conscious of his presence. But
he might not have been there for all they knew. He went out slowly and
shut the door behind him.

It was the shutting of the door that broke the spell, that roused Jimmy
from the lethargy into which he had fallen. He tried to laugh.

"I'm sorry. I--I didn't expect you." The word