ved, and, gazing about, asked, 'What's,
all this about?' and then, recollecting, 'Ah! that brute Keefe'; then
seeing my anxious face he said carelessly, 'Awful bore, ain't it? Sorry
to trouble you, old fellow.'

'You be hanged!' I said shortly; for his old sweet smile was playing
about his lips, and was almost too much for me. 'Mrs. Mavor and I are in
command, and you must keep perfectly still.'

'Mrs. Mavor?' he said, in surprise. She came forward, with a slight
flush on her face.

'I think you know me, Mr. Graeme.'

'I have often seen you, and wished to know you. I am sorry to bring you
this trouble.'

'You must not say so,' she replied, 'but let me do all for you that I
can. And now the doctor says you are to lie still.'

'The doctor? Oh! you mean Connor. He is hardly there yet. You don't know
each other. Permit me to present Mr. Connor, Mrs. Mavor.'

As she bowed slightly, her eyes looked into mine with serious gaze, not
inquiring, yet searching my soul. As I looked into her eyes I forgot
everything about me, and when I recalled myself it seemed as if I
had been away in some far place. It was not their colour or their
brightness; I do not yet know their colour, and I have often looked into
them; and they were not bright; but they were clear, and one could look
far down into them, and in their depths see a glowing, steady light.
As I went to get some drugs from the Black Rock doctor, I found myself
wondering about that far-down light; and about her voice, how it could
get that sound from far away.

I found the doctor quite drunk, as indeed Mr. Craig had warned; but his
drugs were good, and I got what I wanted and quickly returned.

While Graeme slept Mrs. Mavor made me tea. As the evening wore on I told
her the events of the day, dwelling admiringly upon Craig's generalship.
She smiled at this.

'He got me too,' she said. 'Nixon was sent to me just before the sports;
and I don't think he will break down to-day, and I am so thankful.' And
her eyes glowed.

'I am quite sure he won't,' I thought to myself, but I said no word.

After a long pause, she went on, 'I have promised Mr. Craig to sing
to-night, if I am needed!' and then, after a moment's hesitation, 'It
is two years since I have been able to sing--two years,' she repeated,
'since'--and then her brave voice trembled--'my husband was killed.'

'I quite understand,' I said, having no other word on my tongue

'And,' she went on quietly, 'I fear I h