ty.

"But think how hard it must be for any one to want so much to be near
a--a friend in trouble, and to be kept away."

"It is only her wonderful kindness of heart makes her offer to come,
Miss Gray. She is a friend and comrade of long ago. It would greatly
sadden her to see me thus."

"It does not seem so to her," pleaded Nurse Rosemary. "Ah, cannot you
read between the lines? Or does it take a woman's heart to understand a
woman's letter? Did I read it badly? May I read it over again?"

A look of real annoyance gathered upon Garth's face. He spoke with
quiet sternness, a frown bending his straight black brows.

"You read it quite well," he said, "but you do not do well to discuss
it. I must feel able to dictate my letters to my secretary, without
having to explain them."

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Nurse Rosemary humbly. "I was wrong."

Garth stretched his hand across the table, and left it there a moment;
though no responsive hand was placed within it.

"Never mind," he said, with his winning smile, "my kind little mentor
and guide. You can direct me in most things, but not in this. Now let
us conclude. Where were we? Ah--'to suggest coming to see me.' Did you
put `It is most kind' or `It is more than kind?'"

"'More than kind,'" said Nurse Rosemary, brokenly.

"Right, for it is indeed more than kind. Only she and I can possibly
know how much more. Now let us go on ... But I am receiving no
visitors, and do not desire any until I have so mastered my new
circumstances that the handicap connected with them shall neither be
painful nor very noticeable to other people. During the summer I shall
be learning step by step to live this new life, in complete seclusion
at Gleneesh. I feel sure my friends will respect my wish in this
matter. I have with me one who most perfectly and patiently is
helping--Ah, wait!" cried Garth suddenly. "I will not say that. She
might think--she might misunderstand. Had you begun to write it? No?
What was the last word? 'Matter?' Ah yes. That is right. Full stop
after 'matter.' Now let me think."

Garth dropped his face into his hands, and sat for a long time absorbed
in thought.

Nurse Rosemary waited. Her right hand held the pen poised over the
paper. Her left was pressed against her breast. Her eyes rested on that
dark bowed head, with a look of unutterable yearning and of passionate
tenderness. At last Garth lifted his face. "Yours very sincerely, Garth
Dalmain;" he sai