uptness which seemed to be assumed in order to mask some
unusually strong feeling. "I suppose you know that the man Johnson came
to see me----"

"Yes: they have gone," said Lettice, quickly. "They were married
yesterday, and sailed this morning."

"Ah! Well, _she_ was in the room when he--made his communication to me.
I did not know it--Johnson never knew it at all. She had been
asleep--but she woke and heard what he said. She fainted--and she has
been ill ever since." He added a few words concerning the technicalities
of his wife's case.

"Oh, Sydney!--my poor Sydney! I am so sorry," said Lettice, her eyes
full of tears. For she saw, by his changed manner, something of what his
trouble had been, and she instantly forgot all causes of complaint
against him. He was sitting sideways on a chair, with his head on his
hand; and when she put her arms round his neck and kissed him, he did
not repulse her--indeed, he kissed her in return, and seemed comforted
by her caress.

"I can't even see her," he went on. "She faints if I go into the room.
How long do you think it will last, Lettice? Will she ever get over it,
do you think?"

"If she loves you, I think she will, Sydney. But you must give her time.
No doubt it was a great shock to her," said Lettice.

He looked at her assentingly, and then stared out of the window as if
absorbed in thought. The result of his reflections seemed to be summed
up in a short sentence which, certainly, Lettice had never expected to
hear from Sydney's lips:--

"I can't think how I came to be such a damned fool. I beg your pardon,
Lettice; but it's true."

"Can I be of any use to you--or to her?"

"Thank you, I don't think so--just yet. I don't know--"
heavily--"whether she will want you some day to tell her all you know."

"Oh, no, Sydney!"

"You must do just what you think best about it. I shall put no barriers
in the way. Perhaps she had better know everything now."

Then he roused himself a little and looked at her kindly.

"How are you getting on?" he said. "Writing as usual?"

"Yes, I am busy, and doing very well."

"You look thin and fagged."

"Oh, Sydney, if you could but see yourself!"

He smiled at this, and then rose to go.

"But you will stay and have tea with me? Do, Sydney--if only," and
Lettice's voice grew low and deep, "if only in token that there is peace
between us."

So he stayed; and, although they spoke no more of the matters that were
dearest to thei