"But here I am bothering you with all of my troubles," she said, "when
all the time gallant cavaliers wait without, anxious to pay their
devoirs."

Her voice was as gay, as unconcerned, as if she had not just been
sounding the depths of terrible memories. I paid a silent tribute to
her powers of self-discipline before answering curiously.

"Gallant cavaliers?" I repeated. "Who are they?"

"Well, Harry is at the door, and Mr. Gordon at the gate," she returned
merrily. "In other words, Harry is downstairs, waiting patiently
for me to give him permission to see you, while Mr. Gordon took up
quarters at a country inn near here the day after your accident
and has called or telephoned almost hourly since. He begged me this
morning to let him know when you would be able to see him. If Harry's
call does not tire you, I think I would better 'phone him to come
over."

"Lillian!" I spoke imperatively, as a sudden recollection flashed
through my mind. "Was I delirious, or did I hear Mr. Gordon exclaim
something very foolish the night of my accident?"

She looked at me searchingly.

"He said, 'My darling, have I found you only to lose you again?'" she
answered.

"What did he mean?" I gasped.

"That he must tell you himself, Madge," she said gravely. "For me to
guess his meaning would be futile. Shall I telephone him to come over,
and will you see Harry for a moment or two now?"

"Yes! to both questions," I answered.

"Well, lady fair, they haven't made you take the count yet, have they?
By Jove, you're prettier than ever."

Ushered by Lillian, Harry Underwood came into my room with all his
usual breeziness, and stood looking down at me as I lay propped
against the pillows Lillian had piled around me. It was the first time
I had seen him since the night of our dinner, when with the wild idea
of punishing Dicky for his foolishness regarding elderly Mr. Gordon I
had carried on a rather intense flirtation with Harry Underwood.

I had been heartily sorry for and ashamed of the experiment before
the dinner was half over, and many times since the accident which
interrupted the evening I had wondered, half-whimsically, whether my
dress catching fire was not a "judgment on me." I had deeply dreaded
seeing Mr. Underwood again, but as I looked into his eyes I saw
nothing but friendly cheeriness and pity.

Lillian drew a chair for him to my bedside, and for a few moments he
chatted of everything and nothing in the entertaining