y paused at an open door, guarded by a screen.

"Go in, please," said Lady Lucy, making room for her to pass.

Diana entered, shaken with inward fear. She passed the screen, and there
beyond it was an invalid couch--a man lying on it--and a hand held
out to her.

That shrunken and wasted being the Oliver Marsham of two months before!
Her heart beat against her breast. Surely she was looking at the
irreparable! Her high courage wavered and sank.

* * * * *

But Marsham did not perceive it. He saw, as in a cloud, the lovely oval
of the face, the fringed eyes, the bending form.

"Will you sit down?" he said, hoarsely.

She took a chair beside him, still holding his hand. It seemed as though
she were struck dumb by what she saw. He inquired if she was at
Beechcote.

"Yes." Her head drooped. "But I want Lady Lucy to let me come and stay
here--a little."

"No one ought to stay here," he said, abruptly, two spots of feverish
color appearing on his cheeks. "Sir James would advise you not. So
do I."

She looked up softly.

"Your mother is so tired; she wants help. Won't you let me?"

Their eyes met. His hand trembled violently in hers.

"Why did you come?" he said, suddenly, breathing fast.

She found no words, only tears. She had relinquished his hand, but he
stretched it out again and touched her bent head.

"There's no time left," he said, impatiently, "to--to fence in. Look
here! I can't stand this pain many minutes more." He moved with a
stifled groan. "They'll give me morphia--it's the only thing. But I want
you to know. I was engaged to Alicia Drake--after--we broke it off. And
I never loved her--not for a moment--and she knew it. Then, as soon as
this happened she left us. There was poetic justice, wasn't it? Who can
blame her? I don't. I want you to know--what sort of a fellow I am."

Diana had recovered her strength. She raised his hand, and leaned her
face upon it.

"Let me stay," she repeated--"let me stay!"

"No!" he said, with emphasis. "You should only stay if I might tell
you--I am a miserable creature--but I love you! And I may be a miserable
creature--in Chide's opinion--everybody's. But I am not quite such a
cur as that."

"Oliver!" She slipped to her knees. "Oliver! don't send me away!" All
her being spoke in the words. Her dark head sank upon his shoulder, he
felt her fresh cheek against his. With a cry he pressed her to him.

"I am dying--and--I--I am