to herself and
God.

"How could I dream that you would guess?" she murmured, without
uncovering her face--"that you would even imagine such a thing to be
possible?"

"My dearest," the other answered gently, "I am old enough to know
that, where the human heart is concerned, all things are possible."

"But I can't endure that you should know; that you should--think ill
of me."

"You know me very little, Honor, if you can dream of that for a
moment. Come and sit down. No need to hold aloof from me now."

Honor submitted to be led to the sofa, and drawn down close beside her
friend. The whole thing seemed to have become an incredible nightmare.

"Listen to me, my child," Mrs Conolly began, the inexpressible note of
mother-love sounding in her voice. "I want you to realise, once for
all, how I regard this matter. I think you know how much I have loved
and admired you, and I do so now--more than ever. An overwhelming
trouble has come upon you, by no will of your own; and you are
evidently going to meet it with a high-minded courage altogether
worthy of your father's daughter."

Honor shivered.

"Don't speak of father," she entreated. "Only--now that you
understand, tell me--tell me--what _must_ I do?"

The passionate appeal coming from this girl--apt rather to err in the
direction of independence--stirred Mrs Jim's big heart to its depths.

"You will abide by my decision?" she asked.

"Yes; I am ready to do anything for--either of them."

"Bravely spoken, my dear. In that case I can only say, 'Stand to your
guns.' You have promised to take over charge of Captain Desmond, and a
soldier's daughter should not dream of deserting her post. Mind you, I
would not give such advice to ninety-nine girls out of a hundred in
your position. The risk would be too serious; and I only dare give it
to you because I am _sure_ of you, Honor. I quite realise why you feel
you ought to go. But your own feelings must simply be ignored. Your
one hope lies in starving them to death, if possible. Give Evelyn her
chance by all means, but I can't allow you to desert Captain Desmond
on her account. You must be at hand to protect him, and uphold her, in
case of failure. In plain English, you must consent to be a mere
prop--putting yourself in the background and leaving her to reap the
reward. It is the eternal sacrifice of the strong for the weak. You
are one of the strong; and in your case there is no shirking the
penalty without an impu