es
every day at her hospital. Bertram has the D. S. O. I have been less
hard-pressed lately; Lauder has been home on leave and has taken some
Services for me. And now the colder weather has come, I am feeling much
fresher. Try your best to come. I am seriously concerned for our beloved
child. "Your affectionate father "EDWARD PIERSON."

Gratian answered that she could get week-end leave, and would come on
Friday. He met her at the station, and they drove thence straight to the
hospital, to pick up Noel. Leila came to them in the waiting-room, and
Pierson, thinking they would talk more freely about Noel's health if he
left them alone, went into the recreation room, and stood watching a game
of bagatelle between two convalescents. When he returned to the little
sitting-room they were still standing by the hearth, talking in low
voices. Gratian must surely have been stooping over the fire, for her
face was red, almost swollen, and her eyes looked as if she had scorched
them.

Leila said lightly:

"Well, Edward, aren't the men delightful? When are we going to another
concert together?"

She, too, was flushed and looking almost young.

"Ah! If we could do the things we want to.

"That's very pretty, Edward; but you should, you know--for a tonic." He
shook his head and smiled.

"You're a temptress, Leila. Will you let Nollie know, please, that we
can take her back with us? Can you let her off to-morrow?"

"For as long as you like; she wants a rest. I've been talking to
Gratian. We oughtn't to have let her go on after a shock like that--my
fault, I'm afraid. I thought that work might be best."

Pierson was conscious of Gratian walking past him out of the room. He
held out his hand to Leila, and followed. A small noise occurred behind
him such as a woman makes when she has put a foot through her own skirt,
or has other powerful cause for dismay. Then he saw Noel in the hall,
and was vaguely aware of being the centre of a triangle of women whose
eyes were playing catch-glance. His daughters kissed each other; and he
became seated between them in the taxi. The most unobservant of men, he
parted from them in the hall without having perceived anything except
that they were rather silent; and, going to his study, he took up a Life
of Sir Thomas More. There was a passage therein which he itched to show
George Laird, who was coming up that evening.

Gratian and Noel had mounted the stairs with lips tigh