uthbert was driven to the Michauds. For a moment Margot failed to
recognize Cuthbert as she opened the door. As she did so she exclaimed--

"Mon Dieu, Monsieur Hartington, you look like a ghost."

"I am very far from being a ghost, Margot, though there is not much
flesh on my bones. How is Mademoiselle Brander? I hear she has not been
well."

"She is as pale as you are, monsieur, but not so thin. She does nothing
but sit quiet all day with her eyes wide open--she who was always so
bright and active and had a smile for every one. I go out and cry often
after going into her room. She has just gone into the parlor. You will
find her alone there," she added, for Margot had always had her ideas as
to the cause of Cuthbert's visits.

Mary was sitting at the open window and did not look round as Cuthbert
entered.

"Well, Mary, is it actually you, doing nothing?" he said, cheerily.

She turned round with a start, and a flush of color swept across her
face.

"How you startled me," she said. "I am glad indeed to see you. I did not
think you would be out so soon. Surely it is very foolish of you coming
so far."

"Still thinking you are a nurse, Mary," he laughed. "I can assure you I
am very prudent, and I have been brought up here in a carriage a
carriage--with live horses. Dr. Swinburne told me you had not got over
the effects of your hard work, and that he had had to order you to take
tonics, so you see instead of being a nurse you are a patient at
present, while I am a free man. I came out of hospital yesterday
morning, and we had a grand supper last night out of my hoards, which I
found just as I had left them, which says wonders for the honesty of the
Parisians in general, and for the self-denial of my friend Rene Caillard
in particular."

"Why, I should have thought----" and she stopped, abruptly.

"What would you have thought, Miss Brander?"

"Oh, nothing."

"No, no, I cannot be put off in that way. You were going to say that you
thought I should have distributed my stores long ago, or that I ought to
have sent for them for the use of the hospital. I really ought to have
done so. It would have been only fair, but in fact the idea never
occurred to me. Rene had the keys of my rooms and I told him to use the
stores as he liked, meaning for himself and for our comrades of the
studio."

"I should have thought," she began again, and then, as before,
hesitated, and then asked, abruptly, "Have you not something to