pontaneous and without intention. Her doubt
of his Mount Dunstan blood had grown into a sturdy liking even for his
short speech and his often drawn-down brows.

"We've got more to thank your lordship for than common help," she said.
"God Almighty knows where we'd all ha' been but for what you've done.
Those poor souls you've nursed and fed----"

"I've not done it," he broke in promptly. "You're mistaken; I could not
have done it. How could I?"

"Well," exclaimed the matron frankly, "we WAS wondering where things
came from."

"You might well wonder. Have any of you seen Lady Anstruthers' sister,
Miss Vanderpoel, ride through the village? She used sometimes to ride
this way. If you saw her you will remember it.'

"The 'Merican young lady!" in ejaculatory delight. "My word, yes! A
fine young woman with black hair? That rich, they say, as millions won't
cover it."

"They won't," grimly. "Lord Dunholm and Lady Alanby of Dole kindly sent
cheques to help us, but the American young lady was first on the field.
She sent both doctors and nurses, and has supplied us with food and
medicine every day. As you say, Mrs. Brown, God Almighty knows what
would have become of us, but for what she has done."

Mrs. Brown had listened with rather open mouth. She caught her breath
heartily, as a sort of approving exclamation.

"God bless her!" she broke out. "Girls isn't generally like that. Their
heads is too full of finery. God bless her, 'Merican or no 'Merican!
That's what I say."

Mount Dunstan's red-brown eyes looked as if she had pleased him.

"That's what I say, too," he answered. "God bless her!"

There was not a day which passed in which he did not involuntarily say
the words to himself again and again. She had been wrong when she had
said in her musings that they were as far apart as if worlds rolled
between them. Something stronger than sight or speech drew them
together. The thread which wove itself through his thoughts grew
stronger and stronger. The first day her gifts arrived and he walked
about the ballroom ward directing the placing of hospital cots and
hospital aids and comforts, the spirit of her thought and intelligence,
the individuality and cleverness of all her methods, brought her so
vividly before him that it was almost as if she walked by his side,
as if they spoke together, as if she said, "I have tried to think of
everything. I want you to miss nothing. Have I helped you? Tell me if
there is anything