o active
pain.

A cheery whistle on the gravel under her windows roused her at last. She
took up her burden again with a great sigh.

"O God!" she whispered, as she turned her heavy head upon the pillow, "do
let me die soon--do let me die soon!"

But there was no voice nor any that answered.

Wearily at length she raised herself. It was curious how ill she felt.
She looked longingly back at her pillow.

At the same instant the gay whistle in the garden gave place to a cracked
shout. "Hullo, Chris! Aren't you going to get up to-day? Do you know what
time it is?"

She started, and looked at her watch. Ten o'clock! In amazement and
consternation she sprang from the bed. Bertrand was to leave in the
morning; so Trevor had told her. She must--she must--see him before he
left! Doubtless Trevor had hoped that she would sleep on till the
afternoon, and so miss him. How little he knew! How little he understood!

With a bound she reached the window, there a sudden dizziness attacked
her. She clutched at the curtain with both hands. What if he had gone
already? What if she were never to see him again?

Desperately she steadied herself. She must not give way thus. She looked
out and saw Noel, walking along the edge of the balustrade that bounded
the terrace. His arms were outstretched, and he balanced himself with
extreme difficulty. It looked perilous, but she knew him well enough to
feel no anxiety, notwithstanding the fact that there was a fall of twelve
feet on one side of him.

After a few moments she commanded herself sufficiently to call down to
him, "Noel, where is everybody?"

He looked up, lost his balance, and sprang down upon the terrace. "By
Jove! Aren't you dressed yet? What are we coming to? Trevor is gone to
ride round the estate, wouldn't have me for some reason. Bertrand is in
his room with the door locked, says he is busy--all bally rot, of course.
And Aunt Phil, thank the gods! is packing her trunk to leave by the five
o'clock train. By the way, Trevor said I was to see you had some
breakfast. What would you like? I'll bring it up to you myself in two
shakes."

Chris felt an unexpected lump rise in her throat. Somehow the tenderness
of her husband's love hurt her more than it comforted just then. She knew
that he had absented himself and deputed Noel to wait upon her because he
had divined that she would prefer it. His intuition frightened her also.
Was he beginning to divine other things as well?