arted affection and admiration in the tones of those
who used it.

"Men as a rule," Continued Jane, "get on better with me than do women.
Being large and solid, and usually calling a spade 'a spade;' and not
'a garden implement,' women consider me strong-minded, and are inclined
to be afraid of me. The boys know they can trust me; they make a
confidante of me, looking upon me as a sort of convenient elder sister
who knows less about them than an elder sister would know, and is
probably more ready to be interested in those things which they choose
to tell. Among my men friends, Deryck, was Garth Dalmain."

Jane paused, and the doctor waited silently for her to continue.

"I was always interested in him, partly because he was so original and
vivid in his way of talking, and partly because"--a bright flush
suddenly crept up into the tanned cheeks-"well, though I did not
realise it then, I suppose I found his extraordinary beauty rather
fascinating. And then, our circumstances were so much alike,--both
orphans, and well off; responsible to no one for our actions; with
heaps of mutual friends, and constantly staying at the same houses. We
drifted into a pleasant intimacy, and of all my friends, he was the one
who made me feel most like `a man and a brother.' We discussed women by
the dozen, all his special admirations in turn, and the effect of their
beauty upon him, and I watched with interest to see who, at last, would
fix his roving fancy. But on one eventful day all this was changed in
half an hour. We were both staying at Overdene. There was a big house
party, and Aunt Georgina had arranged a concert to which half the
neighbourhood was coming. Madame Velma failed at the last minute. Aunt
'Gina, in a great state of mind, was borrowing remarks from her macaw.
You know how? She always says she is merely quoting `the dear bird.'
Something had to be done. I offered to take Velma's place; and I sang."

"Ah," said the doctor.

"I sang The Rosary--the song Flower asked for the last time I was here.
Do you remember?"

The doctor nodded. "I remember."

"After that, all was changed between Garth and me. I did not understand
it at first. I knew the music had moved him deeply, beauty of sound
having upon him much the same effect as beauty of colour; but I thought
the effect would pass in the night. But the days went on, and there was
always this strange sweet difference; not anything others would notice;
but I suddenly becam