ental breakdowns. I remember how I
was touched by the way you told me YOU suffered from them. I had to take
what you said then for granted. I had had no experience of it myself.
But now I know what it is." He drew a long, pathetic sigh. "Oh, DON'T I
know what it is!" he repeated gloomily.

"Come, my friend, cheer up," Celia purred at him, in soothing tones. He
felt that there was a deliciously feminine and sisterly intuition in
her speech, and in the helpful, nurse-like way in which she drew his arm
through hers. He leaned upon this support, and was glad of it in every
fibre of his being.

"Do you remember? You promised--that last time I saw you--to play for
me," he reminded her. They were passing the little covered postern door
at the side and rear of the church as he spoke, and he made a half halt
to point the coincidence.

"Oh, there's no one to blow the organ," she said, divining his
suggestion. "And I haven't the key--and, besides, the organ is too heavy
and severe for an invalid. It would overwhelm you tonight."

"Not as you would know how to play it for me," urged Theron, pensively.
"I feel as if good music to-night would make me well again. I am really
very ill and weak--and unhappy!"

The girl seemed moved by the despairing note in his voice. She invited
him by a sympathetic gesture to lean even more directly on her arm.

"Come home with me, and I'll play Chopin to you," she said, in
compassionate friendliness. "He is the real medicine for bruised and
wounded nerves. You shall have as much of him as you like."

The idea thus unexpectedly thrown forth spread itself like some vast and
inexpressibly alluring vista before Theron's imagination. The spice of
adventure in it fascinated his mind as well, but for a shrinking moment
the flesh was weak.

"I'm afraid your people would--would think it strange," he faltered--and
began also to recall that he had some people of his own who would be
even more amazed.

"Nonsense," said Celia, in fine, bold confidence, and with a reassuring
pressure on his arm. "I allow none of my people to question what I do.
They never dream of such a preposterous thing. Besides, you will see
none of them. Mrs. Madden is at the seaside, and my father and brother
have their own part of the house. I shan't listen for a minute to your
not coming. Come, I'm your doctor. I'm to make you well again."

There was further conversation, and Theron more or less knew that he was
bearing a part