ception that in
the world of duty to which she referred their paths could not rightly
converge? A cold chill crept over him.

"You were quite right," he said with an involuntary shiver. "It is
decidedly cold out here; the mist rises from the river, I expect,
or else your reference to the working-day world has recalled me from
fairy-land. You should not speak of work in such a place as this it is
incongruous."

She smiled.

"Ernst ist das leben," she replied quietly. "One can't forget that even
at such a time as this, and in such a place."

"How is it that some never forget that for a moment, while others never
remember it at all?" he said musingly.

"Some of us have no excuse for ever forgetting," she answered "hardly a
chance either."

And though the words were vague, they shadowed out to him much of her
life a life never free from sorrow, burdened with constant care and
anxiety, and ever confronted by some of the most perplexing world
problems. A longing to shield, and protect, and comfort her rose in his
heart, yet all the time he instinctively knew that hers was the stronger
nature.

It seemed that the seriousness of life was to be borne in upon them
specially that evening, for, returning to the drawing room, they found
Donovan released from his interview, and relating with some indignation
the pitiable story he had just heard. It only reached Leslie Cunningham
in fragments, however over crowding, children sleeping six in a bed,
two of them with scarlet fever, no fever hospital, no accommodation for
them, an inspector, medical officer, the board how drearily dry all the
details seemed to him. He could do nothing but watch Erica's eager face
with its ever-varying play of expression. He hardly knew whether to be
angry with Donovan Farrant for alluding to matters which brought a look
of sadness to her eyes, or to thank him for the story which made her
face light up with indignation and look, if possible, more beautiful
than before.

"Don't offer to put up a fever shanty on the lawn," said Gladys when her
husband paused.

"I wish we had an empty cottage where we could put them" said Donovan;
"but I am afraid all I can do is to bring pressure to bear upon the
authorities. We'll ride over together, Cunningham, and Jack Trevethan,
our manager, shall show you the tavern while I rout out this medical
officer."

They had had tea; there was no longer any excuse for delaying. Leslie,
with an outward smile and an