man's face--a horrible face."

"The omnibus is coming back," he said quietly. "The servants shall have
a good look round."

"I would not worry about it," Lady Angela said, soothingly. "It is easy
to fancy things when one is not well."

So they meant to treat me like a child. I said nothing, but it was a
long time before my limbs ceased to shake. The tall servant reappeared
with a huge luncheon basket--all manner of delicacies were emptied out
upon my table. Lady Angela was making something in a clip, Ray was
undoing a gold-foiled bottle. Soon I found myself eating and drinking,
and the blood once more was mashing through my veins. I was my own man
again, rescued by charity. And of all the women in the world, fate had
sent this one to play the Lady Bountiful.

"You are looking better, my young friend," Colonel Ray said presently.

"I feel-quite all right again, thank you," I answered. "I wish I could
thank you and Lady Angela."

"You must not attempt anything of the sort," she declared. "My father,
by-the-bye, Mr. Ducaine, wished me to express his great regret that he
should have interfered in any way with your arrangements for this
evening. You know, there are so many stupid people around here who have
never understood anything at all about the war, and he was very anxious
to get Colonel Ray to talk to them. He had no idea, however, that it
was the night fixed for your lecture, and he hopes that you will accept
the loan of the village hall from him any night you like, and we should
so much like all of us to come."

"His Grace is very kind," I murmured. "I fear, however, that the people
are not very much interested in lectures, even about their own
neighbourhood."

"I am, at any rate," Lady Angela answered, smiling, "and I think we can
promise you an audience."

Colonel Ray, who had been standing at the window, came back to us.

"If I may be permitted to make a suggestion, Lady Angela," he said, "I
think it would be well if you returned home now, and I will follow
shortly on foot."

"Indeed," I said, "there is no need for you, Colonel Ray, to remain. I
am absolutely recovered now, and the old woman who looks after me will
be here in the morning."

He seemed scarcely to have heard me. Afterwards, when I knew him
better, I understood his apparent unconcern of any suggestion counter to
his own. He thought slowly and he spoke seldom, but when he had once
spoken the matter, so far as he was concerned, was done