e pleasure yachts were off to Ryde.
Lady Lesbia lay in her curtained cabin, with Kibble keeping watch beside
her bed, while Maulevrier came in every half-hour to see how she
was--sitting by her a little now and then, and talking of indifferent
things in a low kind voice, which was full of comfort.

She seemed grateful for his kindness, and smiled at him once in a way,
with a piteous little smile; but she had the air of one in whom the
mainspring of life is broken. The pallid face and heavy violet eyes,
the semi-transparent hands which lay so listlessly upon the crimson
coverlet, conveyed an impression of supreme despair. Hartfield, looking
down at her for the last time when he came to say good-bye before
leaving for London, was reminded of the story of one whose life had been
thus rudely broken, who had loved as foolishly and even more fondly, and
for whom the world held nothing when that tie was severed.

'She looked on many a face with vacant eye,
On many a token without knowing what;
She saw them watch her, without asking why,
And recked not who around her pillow sat.'

But Lesbia Haselden belonged to a wider and more sophisticated world
than that of the daughter of the Grecian Isle, and for her existence
offered wider horizons. It might be prophesied that for her the dark
ending of a girlish dream would not be a life-long despair. The
passionate love had been at fever point; the passionate grief must have
its fever too, and burn itself out.

'Do all you can to cheer her,' said Lord Hartfield to Maulevrier, 'and
bring her to Fellside as soon as ever she is strong enough to bear the
journey. You and Kibble, with your own man, will be able to do all that
is necessary.'

'Quite able.'

'That's right. I must be in the House for the expected division
to-night, and I shall go back to Grasmere to-morrow morning. Poor Mary
is horribly lonely.'

Lord Hartfield went off in the boat to catch the Southampton steamer;
and Maulevrier was now sole custodian of the yacht and of his sister. He
and the doctor had agreed to keep her on board, in the fresh sea air,
till she was equal to the fatigue of the journey to Grasmere. There was
nothing to be gained by taking her on to the island or by carrying her
to London. The yacht was well found, provided with all things needful
for comfort, and Lesbia could be nowhere better off until she was safe
in her old home:--that home she had left so gaily, in the freshne