ught to have known that the whole subject was too
dangerous to discuss at night.

She became conscious that he was standing just behind her; his figure in
its thin covering looked very lean, his face strangely worn.

"I'm sorry you put that idea into my head!" he said. "I'm fond of
Olive."

Again Mrs. Ercott felt that jealous twinge, soon lost this time in the
motherliness of a childless woman for her husband. He must not be
troubled! He should not be troubled. And she said:

"The water's boiling! Now sip a good glass slowly, and get into bed, or
I'll take your temperature!"

Obediently the Colonel took from her the glass, and as he sipped, she put
her hand up and stroked his head.

IV

In the room below them the subject of their discussion was lying very
wide awake. She knew that she had betrayed herself, made plain to Mark
Lennan what she had never until now admitted to herself. But the
love-look, which for the life of her she could not keep back, had been
followed by a feeling of having 'lost caste.' For, hitherto, the world
of women had been strictly divided by her into those who did and those
who did not do such things; and to be no longer quite sure to which half
she belonged was frightening. But what was the good of thinking, of
being frightened?--it could not lead to anything. Yesterday she had not
known this would come; and now she could not guess at to-morrow! To-night
was enough! To-night with its swimming loveliness! Just to feel! To
love, and to be loved!

A new sensation for her--as different from those excited by the
courtships of her girlhood, or by her marriage, as light from darkness.
For she had never been in love, not even with her husband. She knew it
now. The sun was shining in a world where she had thought there was
none. Nothing could come of it. But the sun was shining; and in that
sunshine she must warm herself a little.

Quite simply she began to plan what he and she would do. There were six
days left. They had not yet been to Gorbio, nor to Castellar--none of
those long walks or rides they had designed to do for the beauty of them.
Would he come early to-morrow? What could they do together? No one
should know what these six days would be to her--not even he. To be with
him, watch his face, hear his voice, and now and then just touch him!
She could trust herself to show no one. And then, it would be--over!
Though, of course, she would see him again in London