Dudley?"

"Yes, I shall come over. Did she send any message?"

"No--nothing particular----"

Patty looked confused, stroked her dress, and gave a little cough.

"But if it rains--as it very likely will--there's no use in my coming."

"No, she said not."

"Or if her headache is still troubling her----"

"Let's hope it will be better. But--in any case, she'll be able to come
with me to Birmingham on Monday, when I go back I must be home again on
Monday night."

"Don't you think," said Hilliard carelessly, "that Eve would rather
have you to herself, just for the short time you are here?"

Patty made vigorous objection.

"I don't think that at all. It's quite settled that you are to come
over to-morrow, if it's fine. Oh, and I _do_ hope it will be! It would
be so dreadful to be shut up in the house all day at Dudley. How very
awkward that there's no place where she can have you there! If it
rains, hadn't we better come here? I'm sure it would be better for Eve.
She seems to get into such low spirits--just like she was sometimes in
London."

"That's quite news to me," said the listener gravely.

"Doesn't she let you know? Then I'm so sorry I mentioned it. You won't
tell her I said anything?"

"Wait a moment. Does she say that she is often in low spirits?"

Patty faltered, stroking her dress with the movement of increasing
nervousness.

"It's better I should know," Hilliard added, "I'm afraid she keeps all
this from me. For several weeks I have thought her in particularly good
health."

"But she tells me just the opposite. She says----"

"Says what?"

"Perhaps it's only the place that doesn't agree with her. I don't think
Dudley is _very_ healthy, do you?"

"I never heard of doctors sending convalescents there. But Eve must be
suffering from some other cause, I think. Does it strike you that she
is at all like what she used to be when--when you felt so anxious about
her?"

He met the girl's eyes, and saw them expand in alarm.

"I didn't think--I didn't mean----" she stammered.

"No, but I have a reason for asking. Is it so or not?"

"Don't frighten me, Mr. Hilliard! I do so wish I hadn't said anything.
She isn't in good health, that's all. How can you think----? That was
all over long ago. And she would never--I'm _sure_ she wouldn't, after
all you've done for her."

Hilliard ground the carpet with his foot, and all but uttered a violent
ejaculation.

"I know she is all gratitude," were the