tten the doctor. She came back promptly from the glowing
heart of the fire.

"I am glad you don't," she said. "I did.--well, we both left Overdene
on the same day. I came to you; he went to Shenstone. It was a Tuesday.
On the Friday I went down to Shenstone, and we met again. Having been
apart for a little while seemed to make this curious feeling of
`togetherness,' deeper and sweeter than ever. In the Shenstone house
party was that lovely American girl, Pauline Lister. Garth was
enthusiastic about her beauty, and set on painting her. Everybody made
sure he was going to propose to her. Deryck, I thought so, too; in fact
I had advised him to do it. I felt so pleased and interested over it,
though all the while his eyes touched me when he looked at me, and I
knew the day did not begin for him until we had met, and was over when
we had said good-night. And this experience of being first and most to
him made everything so golden, and life so rich, and still I thought of
it only as an unusually delightful friendship. But the evening of my
arrival at Shenstone he asked me to come out on to the terrace after
dinner, as he wanted specially to talk to me. Deryck, I thought it was
the usual proceeding of making a confidante of me, and that I was to
hear details of his intentions regarding Miss Lister. Thinking that, I
walked calmly out beside him; sat down on the parapet, in the brilliant
moonlight, and quietly waited for him to begin. Then--oh, Deryck! It
happened."

Jane put her elbows on her knees, and buried her face in her clasped
hands.

"I cannot tell you--details. His love--it just poured over me like
molten gold. It melted the shell of my reserve; it burst through the
ice of my convictions; it swept me off my feet upon a torrent of
wondrous fire. I knew nothing in heaven or earth but that this love was
mine, and was for me. And then--oh, Deryck! I can't explain--I don't
know myself how it happened--but this whirlwind of emotion came to rest
upon my heart. He knelt with his arms around me, and we held each other
in a sudden great stillness; and in that moment I was all his, and he
knew it. He might have stayed there hours if he had not moved or
spoken; but presently he lifted up his face and looked at me. Then he
said two words. I can't repeat them, Boy; but they brought me suddenly
to my senses, and made me realise what it all meant. Garth Dalmain
wanted me to marry him."

Jane paused, awaiting the doctor's expressi