he marquee, cried out to Amherst that her mother was asking
for him too; and then Justine had time to observe that her remaining
companion had no intention of responding to his hostess's appeal.

Westy, in naming her, had laid just enough stress on the name to let it
serve as a reminder or an introduction, as circumstances might decide,
and she saw that Amherst, roused from his abstraction by the proffered
clue, was holding his hand out doubtfully.

"I think we haven't met for some years," he said.

Justine smiled. "I have a better reason than you for remembering the
exact date;" and in response to his look of surprise she added: "You
made me commit a professional breach of faith, and I've never known
since whether to be glad or sorry."

Amherst still bent on her the gaze which seemed to find in external
details an obstacle rather than a help to recognition; but suddenly his
face cleared. "It was you who told me the truth about poor Dillon! I
couldn't imagine why I seemed to see you in such a different
setting...."

"Oh, I'm disguised as a lady this afternoon," she said smiling. "But I'm
glad you saw through the disguise."

He smiled back at her. "Are you? Why?"

"It seems to make it--if it's so transparent--less of a sham, less of a
dishonesty," she began impulsively, and then paused again, a little
annoyed at the overemphasis of her words. Why was she explaining and
excusing herself to this stranger? Did she propose to tell him next that
she had borrowed her dress from Effie Dressel? To cover her confusion
she went on with a slight laugh: "But you haven't told me."

"What was I to tell you?"

"Whether to be glad or sorry that I broke my vow and told the truth
about Dillon."

They were standing face to face in the solitude of the garden-walk,
forgetful of everything but the sudden surprised sense of intimacy that
had marked their former brief communion. Justine had raised her eyes
half-laughingly to Amherst, but they dropped before the unexpected
seriousness of his.

"Why do you want to know?" he asked.

She made an effort to sustain the note of pleasantry.

"Well--it might, for instance, determine my future conduct. You see I'm
still a nurse, and such problems are always likely to present
themselves."

"Ah, then don't!"

"Don't?"

"I mean--" He hesitated a moment, reaching up to break a rose from the
branch that tapped his shoulder. "I was only thinking what risks we run
when we scramble into the