vity of which shadowed his
deep-set eyes and heightened the grim setting of his jaw.

In a room full of people engrossed in one another, he gravitated to her,
as usual, but surprised her by asking her to grant him a few words in
private. "Come out with me to the tennis courts," he commanded with a
definiteness she felt powerless to slight.

It was dark on the tennis courts with only a young moon shining;
nevertheless, Honor accompanied him forth, realising the fatefulness of
the coming interview. When they had reached the shadow of the Duranta
hedge that separated the courts from the building, and were seated on a
bench, he told her in a few words that he had decided to comply with her
wishes in the matter of his wife. It had taken him two months to bring
himself to the point of making the sacrifice, but at last it was made.

"Of course I am doing it to please you. You have set your heart on
helping Joyce Meredith, and as this is the only way, it shall be done
though it takes a mighty effort in the doing. I am writing to tell her
that she may return to my protection openly, as my wife; but, needless
to say, my wife only in name. If it will give her a chance to right
herself in the eyes of the world and help her to live as an honest
woman, she is welcome to make the fullest use of my offer. It certainly
might keep her from tampering further with Meredith's loyalty to his
wife. But I question whether it is not too late!"

"It is never too late!" said Honor, feeling numb and paralysed.

"That will be up to Mrs. Meredith. She is an unsophisticated little
thing, and, I dare say, Meredith will keep his mouth shut."

It was plain to judge that he was again full of envy of other men's
chances of happiness, for his tones reminded Honor of the man he was
when they first met. It was too dark to see his face.

"If she accepts your offer will she come here?" Honor asked shrinkingly.

"She will have to if she comes at once. But I expect soon to be put on
active service. My application to serve with the Army is receiving
consideration, and it is possible I shall have to go to France or Egypt
as there may be trouble with Turkey. In that case she will choose her
residence. Another medical officer will occupy my bungalow."

So it had come at last!

Honor had been fearing that the war would, in its relentlessness, claim
him also. It was said in the papers that there was a scandalous shortage
of surgeons for a war of such magnitu