t anyone suspect there was anything amiss. At any rate, her
conscience was clear. So thinking, she set her cap straight before the
mirror, and, with eyes brighter than usual and head held high, went
back to her duties.

To her relief her late assailant made brief work of his lunch that day
and left the dining-room before the end of the meal.

"So unlike him," was Miss Clifford's mild comment. "He usually has
such a good appetite. But no one seems hungry to-day. Roger, my dear,
you are not eating at all. Is your head still bad?"

Her nephew eyed his _crepes Suzettes_ with disfavour.

"Yes, it's rather tiresome. Can't think what causes it. I've had it
since last night."

Esther shot him a speculative glance. Up till now she had been too
deeply absorbed in her own thoughts to observe how heavy-eyed he was,
listless and unlike his usual self. He caught her eyes and laughed in
protest.

"Don't _you_ begin on me. I refuse to be doctored. The last attempt
to cure my headache resulted in this----" and he held up his injured
hand.

"Then I'd better not suggest an aspirin for fear you'd go and break
your leg?"

"No, don't. It's a gorgeous day, though, simply a crime to stay
indoors. Will you chance left-handed driving and come for a spin?"

"I will not," she refused decidedly. "The man who drives me will want
two hands."

"Ah--_formidable_, as these French say. Then you don't trust me?"

"No, I don't. That's a very nasty cut you've got; it will be every bit
of ten days before you can take a car out. You must give the thing a
chance to heal properly."

She finished her lunch in a more agreeable frame of mind than she had
begun it, then, excusing herself, went up to settle her patient for his
afternoon nap. Something restless and fretful in Sir Charles's manner
caught her attention for a moment, but when she had sat with him a
little he quieted down so that she was sure when she left him he was
about to doze off. She was glad not to encounter the doctor, although
the flame of her anger had died down, leaving only the cold ashes of
resentment.

She could not explain why it was that after a short brisk walk through
the streets of La Californie she should suddenly feel impelled to
return to the house. It seemed as though she were being literally
drawn back to her patient. She had never had such a thing happen
before. She raced home and ran upstairs, slipping quietly into the
darkened bedroom.