ere and helping
you to look after the Major?"

He gasped for a moment (as did I) and clutched her arms for an instant
in an iron grip.

"Indeed I will, my dear," said he.

Then he stepped back a pace and stood rigid, his one eye staring, his
weather-beaten face the colour of beetroot. He was blushing. The beads
of perspiration appeared below his awful wig. He stammered out
something about "Ma'am" and "Madam." He had never so far forgotten
himself in his life.

But Betty sprang forward and gripped his hand.

"It is you who are the dear," she said. "You, the greatest and loyalest
friend a man has ever known. And I'll be loyal to you, never fear."

By what process of enchantment she got an emotion-filled Marigold to
the door and shut it behind him, I shall never discover. On its slam
she laughed--a queer high note. In one swift movement she was by my
knees. And she broke into a passion of tears. For me, I was the most
mystified man under heaven.

Soon she began to speak, her head bowed.

"I've come to the end of the tether, Majy dear. They've driven me from
the hospital--I didn't know how to tell you before--I've been doing all
sorts of idiotic things. The doctors say it's a nervous breakdown--I've
had rather a bad time--but I thought it contemptible to let one's own
wretched little miseries interfere with one's work for the country--so
I fought as hard as I could. Indeed I did, Majy dear. But it seems I've
been playing the fool without knowing it,--I haven't slept properly for
months--and they've sent me away. Oh, they've been all that's kind, of
course--I must have at least six months' rest, they say--they talk
about nursing homes--I've thought and thought and thought about it
until I'm certain. There's only one rest for me, Majy dear." She raised
a tear-stained, tense and beautiful face and drew herself up so that
one arm leaned on my chair, and the other on my shoulder. "And that is
to be with the one human being that is left for me to love--oh, really
love--you know what I mean--in the world."

I could only put my hand on her fair young head and say:

"My dear, my dear, you know I love you."

"That is why I'm not afraid to speak. Perfect love casteth out fear--"

I pushed back her hair. "What is it that you want me to do, Betty?" I
asked. "My life, such as it is, is at your command."

She looked me full, unflinchingly in the eyes.

"If you would give me the privilege of bearing your name, I should be