t from his eyes and
the Boy; but I can't get at the bottom of it. No need to make the
others anxious yet; only--I won't leave him again. I intend to stick
to my charge after all," she added, with a sudden smile. "There was
some sort of--misunderstanding, it seems. I don't quite know what, but
there's an end of it now."

"Thank God!" The words were no mere formula on Paul Wyndham's lips.
"Misunderstandings are more poisonous than snakes! Go straight back to
him, and I'll send the orderly flying in two minutes."

* * * * *

There was little sleep for either Wyndham or Honor that night.

The girl persuaded Evelyn to go early to bed, merely telling her that
as Theo was restless she would have to sit up with him for a while;
and Evelyn, secretly relieved at not being asked to do the sitting up
herself, deposited a light kiss on her husband's hair and departed
with a pretty air of meekness that brought a smile to Honor's lips.

She had felt mildly happy and oppressively good all day. The tea-party
had helped to lighten the hushed atmosphere of the house; and her last
waking thought was of George Rivers' deep-toned voice and frankly
admiring eyes. She decided that he might "do" in place of Harry
Denvil, who must naturally be forgotten as soon as possible; because
it was so uncomfortable to think of people who were dead.

Desmond's temperature rose rapidly; and the two, who could not bear to
leave his side, divided the night watches between them. Amar Singh,
his chin between his knees, crouched dog-like on the mat outside the
door, presenting himself, from time to time, with such dumb yearning
in his eyes that Honor devised small services for him in pure
tenderness of heart.

Paul took a couple of hours' rest at midnight, on the condition that
Honor should do the same towards morning; and since she was obviously
reluctant when the unwelcome hour arrived, he smilingly conducted her
in person to the threshold of her room.

"Good-night to you,--Miss Meredith! Or should it be good-morning?" he
said lightly, in the hope of chasing the strained look from her face.

"Good-morning, for preference," she retorted, with an attempt at a
laugh. "You can take a horse to the water, but you can't make him
drink! I shan't sleep even for five minutes."

"You think so; but Nature will probably have her way with you all the
same."

He moved as if to go, but she came suddenly nearer; and the hidden
fear