mfortable bed, and photographs and
books arranged on the tiny dressing-table. She said: 'Here, if you
please, serjeant,' and we laid him on the bed. 'Whose is it?' I asked.
She looked surprised at being questioned, but seeing I was a stranger,
answered civilly: 'Mine.' And then, noting that he had dozed off while
we carried him, added: 'And he will have done with beds, poor chap,
before I need it.' There's nerve for you!--Well, that was my only
conversation out there with the Honourable Jane. Soon after I had had
enough and came home."

Garth lifted his head. "Did you ever meet her at home?" he asked.

"I did," said Dr. Rob. "But she did not remember me. Not a flicker of
recognition. Well, how could I expect it? I wore a beard out there; no
time to shave; and my jacket proclaimed me a serjeant, not a surgeon.
No fault of hers if she did not expect to meet a comrade from the front
in the wilds of--of Piccadilly," finished Dr. Rob lamely. "Now, having
spun so long a yarn, I must be off to your gardener's cot in the wood,
to see his good wife, who has had what he pathetically calls 'an
increase.' I should think a decrease would have better suited the size
of his house. But first I must interview Mistress Margery in the
dining-room. She is anxious about herself just now because she 'canna
eat bacon.' She says it flies between her shoulders. So erratic a
deviation from its normal route on the part of the bacon, undoubtedly
requires investigation. So, by your leave, I will ring for the good
lady."

"Not just yet, doctor," said a quiet voice from the window. "I want to
see you in the dining-room, and will follow you there immediately. And
afterwards, while you investigate Margery, I will run up for my bonnet,
and walk with you through the woods, if Mr. Dalmain will not mind an
hour alone."

When Jane reached the dining-room, Dr. Robert Mackenzie was standing on
the hearth-rug in a Napoleonic attitude, just as on the morning of
their first interview. He looked up uncertainly as she came in.

"Well?" he said. "Am I to pay the piper?"

Jane came straight to him, with both hands extended.

"Ah, serjeant!" she said. "You dear faithful old serjeant! See what
comes of wearing another man's coat. And my dilemma comes from taking
another woman's name. So you knew me all the time, from the first
moment I came into the room?"

"From the first moment you entered the room," assented Dr. Rob.

"Why did you not say so?" asked Jane