"He is busy with his work all day long. What time has he
for--other things?"

"Exactly, _ma cherie_! One would not expect it of him. Duty
first--pleasure afterwards, is doubtless his motto. Very worthy--and
very appropriate, for one of his profession. Unquestionably, it will
become yours also--in time."

A faint, sad smile crossed Juliet's face. She made no response, and in a
moment Saltash bent and swept up Columbus under his arm.

"_Adieu_, sister of mercy!" he said lightly. "I leave you to your
dreams."

He went away along the gallery, and she entered the room and shut
herself in.

For a second or two she stood quite motionless in the great luxurious
apartment. Then slowly she went forward to the wide-flung window, and
stood there, gazing blankly forth over the distant fir-clad park. He had
said that he would see her again. It seemed so long ago. And all through
this difficult time of strain and anxiety he had done nothing--nothing.
She did not realize until that moment how much she had counted upon the
memory of those last words of his.

Ah well! Perhaps--as Charles Rex hinted--it was better. Better to end it
all thus, that midsummer madness of theirs that had already endured too
long! They had lived such widely sundered lives. How could they ever have
hoped ultimately to bridge the gulf between?

Charles was right. His shrewd perception realized that dwelling as they
did in separate spheres they were bound to be fundamentally strangers
to one another. Surely Dick himself had foreseen it long since down on
that golden shore when first he had sought to dissuade her from going
to the Court!

Her heart contracted at the memory. How sweet those early days had
been! But the roses had faded, the nightingales had ceased to sing. It
was all over now--all over. The dream was shattered, and she was weary
unto death.

CHAPTER VII

THE SACRIFICE

"I expect it's one of them abscies again," said Mrs. Rickett
sympathetically. "Have you been to the doctor about it, my dear?"

Robin, sitting heaped in the wooden arm-chair in her kitchen,
looked at her with a smouldering glow in his eyes. "Don't like
doctors," he muttered.

Mrs. Rickett sighed and went on with her ironing. "No more do I, Robin.
But we can't always do without 'em. Have you told your brother now?"

Robin, sullenly rocking himself to and fro, made no reply for several
seconds. Then very suddenly: "He asked me if I'd got a headache and I
told