ster
the courage to seize it. Blake, however, did not seem daunted.

"You said you were delighted with the things my uncle showed you the
last time you were here, and a friend has just sent him a fresh lot
from Benares." He gave her an appealing look. "It struck me you might
like to see them."

The blood crept up into Millicent's face, but she answered with forced
calm:

"Yes; I really think I should."

"Will you give me the key to the Indian collection?" Blake asked
Challoner.

"Here it is," said the Colonel; and then turned to Mrs. Keith. "That
reminds me, you haven't seen my new treasures yet. Dryhurst has lately
sent me some rather good things; among others, there's a small Buddha,
exquisitely carved. Shall we go and look at them?"

Mrs. Keith felt angry with him for a marplot.

"Wouldn't it be better to wait until I'm here in the daylight? If I
try to examine anything closely with these spectacles, they strain my
eyes."

"I've had a new lamp placed in front of the case," Challoner persisted;
and Mrs. Keith found it hard to forgive him for his obtuseness.

"Very well," she said in a resigned tone; and when Millicent and Blake
had gone out she walked slowly to the door with Challoner.

They were half-way up the staircase, which led rather sharply from the
hall, when she stopped and grasped the banister.

"It's obvious that you have recovered," she said.

"I certainly feel much better; but what prompted your remark?"

"These stairs. You don't seem to feel them, but if you expect me to
run up and down, you'll have to make them shallower and less steep.
I've been up twice since I came. I must confess to a weakness in my
knee."

Challoner gave her a sharp glance.

"I'm sorry," he said. "Mrs. Foster mentioned something about your not
walking much; I should have remembered."

"It's the weather; I find the damp troublesome. If you don't mind, I
think we'll go down."

Challoner gave her his arm, and Millicent, standing in the picture
gallery, noticed their return. She suspected that it was the result of
some maneuver of Mrs. Keith's intended for her advantage, and she tried
to summon her resolution. The man she loved would sail the next day,
believing that his poverty and the stain he had not earned must stand
between them, unless she could force herself to give him a hint to the
contrary. This was the only sensible course, but she timidly shrank
from it.

Blake unlocked a glass case an