ie.

CHAPTER XXI

HARD ON THE SECRETARY

Nurse Rosemary sat with her patient in the sunny library at Gleneesh. A
small table was between them, upon which lay a pile of letters--his
morning mail--ready for her to open, read to him, and pass across,
should there chance to be one among them he wished to touch or to keep
in his pocket.

They were seated close to the French window opening on to the terrace;
the breeze, fragrant with the breath of spring flowers, blew about
them, and the morning sun streamed in.

Garth, in white flannels, wearing a green tie and a button-hole of
primroses, lay back luxuriously, enjoying, with his rapidly quickening
senses, the scent of the flowers and the touch of the sun-beams.

Nurse Rosemary finished reading a letter of her own, folded it, and put
it in her pocket with a feeling of thankful relief. Deryck was coming.
He had not failed her.

"A man's letter, Miss Gray," said Garth unexpectedly.

"Quite right," said Nurse Rosemary. "How did you know?"

"Because it was on one sheet. A woman's letter on a matter of great
importance would have run to two, if not three. And that letter was on
a matter of importance."

"Right again," said Nurse Rosemary, smiling. "And again, how did you
know?"

"Because you gave a little sigh of relief after reading the first line,
and another, as you folded it and replaced it in the envelope."

Nurse Rosemary laughed. "You are getting on so fast, Mr. Dalmain, that
soon we shall be able to keep no secrets. My letter was from--"

"Oh, don't tell me," cried Garth quickly, putting out his hand in
protest. "I had no idea of seeming curious as to your private
correspondence, Miss Gray. Only it is such a pleasure to report
progress to you in the things I manage to find out without being told."

"But I meant to tell you anyway," said Nurse Rosemary. "The letter is
from Sir Deryck, and, amongst other things, he says he is coming up to
see you next Saturday."

"Ah, good!" said Garth. "And what a change he will find! And I shall
have the pleasure of reporting on the nurse, secretary, reader, and
unspeakably patient guide and companion he provided for me." Then he
added, in a tone of suddenly awakened anxiety: "He is not coming to
take you away, is he?"

"No," said Nurse Rosemary, "not yet. But, Mr. Dalmain, I was wanting to
ask whether you could spare me just during forty-eight hours; and Dr.
Brand's visit would be an excellent opportunity. I c