w I have been ill?'

"'Of course,' I said, 'and he knows that you are now perfectly
well.'

"She turned slowly to her mother: 'Am I?' she asked.

"'What, dear?'

"'Perfectly well.'

"'Certainly,' replied her mother, laughing; 'well enough to break
your neck on that horrid, jigging, little pony. If Garry wants to
see you alive he'd better come pretty soon--'

"'Come _here?_'

"We all looked up at her. Oh, Garry! For a moment something came
into her eyes that I never want to see there again--and, please
God, never shall!--a momentary light like a pale afterglow of
terror.

"It went as it came; and the colour returned to her face.

"'Is he coming here?' she asked calmly.

"'Yes,' I made bold to say.

"'When?'

"'In a few days, I hope.'

"She said nothing more about you, nor did I. A moment later she
sent away her pony and went indoors.

"After luncheon I found her lying in the hammock in the _patio_,
eyes closed as though asleep. She lay there all the afternoon--an
unusual thing for her.

"Toward sundown, as I was entering my chair to go back to the
hotel, she came out and stood beside the chair looking at me as
though she was trying to say something. I don't know what it
might have been, for she never said it, but she bent down and
laid her cheek against mine for a moment, and drew my head
around, searching my eyes.

"I don't know whether I was right or wrong, but I said: 'There is
no one to compare with you, Shiela, in your new incarnation of
health and youth. I never before knew you; I don't think you ever
before knew yourself.'

"'Not entirely,' she said.

"'Do you now?'

"'I think so.... May I ask you something?'

"I nodded, smiling.

"'Then--there is only one thing I care for now--to'--she looked
up toward the house--'to make them contented--to make up to them
what I can for--for all that I failed in. Do you understand?'

"'Yes,' I said, 'you sweet thing.' And gave her a little hug,
adding: 'And that's why I'm going to write a letter to-night--at
your mother's desire--and my own.'

"She said nothing more; my chair rolled away; and here's the
letter that I told her I meant to write.

"'Now, dear, come if you think best. I don't know of any
reason why you should not come; if you know of any you must
act on your own responsibility.'