e by making Isaacson understand
Ruby more as he understood her. If he could only accomplish this before
Ruby came back! Now this idea came to him, and sent warmth into his
voice, warmth into his manner. Isaacson opened his lips to make some
friendly protest, but Nigel continued:

"And d'you know who made me see my selfishness--realize how tremendously
unselfish you've been in sticking to me all this time?"

Isaacson said nothing.

"My wife. She opened my eyes to it. But for her I mightn't have given a
thought to all your loss, not only your material loss, but--"

Isaacson felt as if something poisonous had stung him.

"Please don't speak of anything of that kind!" he said.

"I know I can never compensate you for all you've done for us--"

"Oh, yes, you can!"

The Doctor's voice was almost sharp. Nigel was startled by it.

"We can? How?"

"You can!" Isaacson said, laying a heavy stress on the first word.

"How?"

"First, by never speaking to me of--of the usual 'compensation' patients
make to doctors."

"But how can you expect me to accept all this devoted service and make
no kind of return?"

"Perhaps you can make me a return--the only return I want."

"But what is it?"

"I--I won't tell you to-night."

"Then when will you tell me?"

Isaacson hesitated. His face was blazing with expression. He looked
like a man powerfully stirred--almost like a man on the edge of some
outburst.

"I won't tell you to-night," he repeated.

"But you must tell me."

"At the proper time. You asked me at dinner what had been the matter
with you, what illness you had been suffering from. You observed that I
didn't care to tell you then. Well, I'll tell you before you get rid of
me."

"Get rid of you!"

"Yes, yes. Don't think I misunderstand what you've been trying to tell
me to-night. You want to convey to me in a friendly manner that now I've
accomplished my work it's time for me to be off."

Nigel was deeply hurt.

"Nothing of the sort!" he said. "It was only that my wife had made me
understand what a terrible loss to you remaining out here at such a time
must be."

"There is something I must make you understand, Armine, before I leave
you. And when I've told you what it is, you can give me the only
compensation I want, and I want it badly--badly!"

"And you won't tell me what it is now?"

"Not to-night--not in a hurry."

He got up.

"When are you expecting Mrs. Armine back?" he asked.

"In four ni