and her eyes grew keen as she watched his
gaunt figure.

"To be dragged down, to be accused, to be cast so low," he continued, in
his sad, heavy voice, "so low that the lowest have cause to deride and
to scorn." He stopped before her. "Is it true that I can save you from
that?"

"It is true."

She did not tell him that she had lied to Draycott; it did not appear
necessary; neither did she tell him that Draycott's memory was long and
sure and unerring.

"Then, if there is one man in all God's universe,"--Heath cast out his
arms as he spoke--"one man above all others whom you could appeal to,
could trust most entirely, that man is myself. Give me your burden, your
distress of mind, and I will take them; I cannot say more--"

"Of course, it may never be necessary for you to--to avoid telling Mr.
Hartley," broke in Mrs. Wilder quickly. Heath was getting on her nerves,
and she rose to her feet. "I cannot thank you sufficiently, and I fear
that I have upset you, made you feel my own cares too profoundly,"--her
voice grew almost tender. "I have never known such ready sympathy, but
you feel too intensely, Mr. Heath. You make my little trouble your own,
and you have made me very grateful. Are you in any trouble yourself?"

Heath stopped for a moment, an outline against the light of the window.
She thought he was going to speak, and she waited with an odd feeling of
excitement to hear what was coming, when he suddenly retired back into
his usual manner.

A light was travelling up the staircase, casting great shadows before
it, and when the boy came to the door of the Padre Sahib's room, he saw
his master saying good-bye to a tall, dark lady who smiled at him and
gave him her hand.

"Good night, Mr. Heath, I hardly know how to thank you sufficiently."

She hurried down the staircase, and as she walked out, she met Atkins
coming in on his bicycle. He jumped off as he saw her, and spoke in
surprise.

"I have just been calling on the Padre," replied Mrs. Wilder pleasantly,
as he commented with ever-ready tactlessness upon her presence in the
Compound. "One of my servants is ill; a member of his community. By the
way, do you think that Mr. Heath is quite well himself?"

"Indeed I do not think so. He overworks. I have a great admiration for
Heath."

"He must be rather depressing in the rains," she said, with a careless
laugh. "He positively gave me the shivers. I can hardly envy you boxed
up there with him. I believe h