the matter at the present moment, is heart trouble."

"Ah! I thought so." Bernard looked across at him with grave
comprehension. "She had a bad shock the other day."

"Yes; a shock to the whole system. She lives on wires in any case. I am
going to examine her presently, but I am pretty sure I am right. What
she really wants--" Major Ralston stopped himself abruptly, so abruptly
that a twinkle of humour shone momentarily in Bernard's eyes.

"Don't jam on the brakes on my account!" he protested gently. "I am with
you all the way. What does she really want?"

Major Ralston uttered a gruff laugh. It was practically impossible not
to confide in Bernard Monck. "She wants to get right away from that
vicious little termagant of a mother of hers. There's no love between
them and never will be, so what's the use of pretending? She wants to
get into a wholesome bracing, outdoor atmosphere with someone who knows
how to love her. She'll probably go straight to the bad if she
doesn't--that is, if she lives long enough."

The humour had died in Bernard's eyes. They shone with a very different
light as he said, "I have thought the same thing myself." He paused a
moment, then slowly, "Do you think her mother would be persuaded to hand
her over to me?" he said.

Ralston's brows went up. "To you! For good and all do you mean?"

"Yes." In his steady unhurried fashion Bernard made answer. "I have been
thinking of it for some time. As a matter of fact, it was to consult you
about it that I came here to-day. I want it more than ever now."

Ralston was staring openly. "You'd have your hands full," he remarked.

Bernard smiled. "I daresay. But, you see, we're chums. To use your own
expression I know how to love her. I could make her happy--possibly good
as well."

Ralston never paid compliments, but after a considerable pause he said,
"It would be the best thing that ever happened to the imp. So far as her
mother's permission goes, I should say she is cheap enough to be had
almost without asking. You won't need to use much persuasion in that
direction."

"An infernal shame!" said Bernard, the hot light again in his eyes.

Ralston agreed with him. "All the same, Tessa can be a positive little
demon when she likes. I've seen it, so I know. She has got a good deal
of her mother's temperament only with a generous allowance of heart
thrown in."

"Yes," Bernard said. "And it's the heart that counts. You can do
practically anything wit