ll the time one keeps an
unconscious look-out; measuring distances, judging speed, and knowing
what each turn of the handle means. So when we go out you must let me
be eyes to you in this."

"How good you are!" said Garth, gratefully. "And did you see Sir Deryck
off?"

"No. I did not SEE Sir Deryck at all. But he said good-bye, and I felt
the kind, strong grip of his hand as he left me in the car. And I sat
there and heard his train start and rush away into the distance."

"Was it not hard to you to let him come and go and not to see his face?"

Jane smiled. "Yes, it was hard," said Nurse Rosemary; "but I wished to
experience that hardness."

"It gives one an awful blank feeling, doesn't it?" said Garth.

"Yes. It almost makes one wish the friend had not come."

"Ah--" There was a depth of contented comprehension in Garth's sigh;
and the brave heart, which had refused to lift the bandage to the very
last, felt more than recompensed.

"Next time I reach the Gulf of Partings in Sightless Land," continued
Garth, "I shall say: 'A dear friend has stood here for my sake.'"

"Oh, and one's meals," said Nurse Rosemary laughing. "Are they not
grotesquely trying?"

"Yes, of course; I had forgotten you would understand all that now. I
never could explain to you before why I must have my meals alone. You
know the hunt and chase?"

"Yes," said Nurse Rosemary, "and it usually resolves itself into 'gone
away,' and turns up afterwards unexpectedly! But, Mr. Dalmain, I have
thought out several ways of helping so much in that and making it all
quite easy. If you will consent to have your meals with me at a small
table, you will see how smoothly all will work. And later on, if I am
still here, when you begin to have visitors, you must let me sit at
your left, and all my little ways of helping would be so unobtrusive,
that no one would notice."

"Oh, thanks," said Garth. "I am immensely grateful. I have often been
reminded of a silly game we used to play at Overdene, at dessert, when
we were a specially gay party. Do you know the old Duchess of Meldrum?
Or anyway, you may have heard of her? Ah, yes, of course, Sir Deryck
knows her. She called him in once to her macaw. She did not mention the
macaw on the telephone, and Sir Deryck, thinking he was wanted for the
duchess, threw up an important engagement and went immediately. Luckily
she was at her town house. She would have sent just the same had she
been at Overdene. I wish