ained to catch any
sound.

"He will probably sleep for hours," Burke said, breaking the
silence.

She looked at him with a start. She had almost forgotten his
presence. She met his eyes and felt for a few seconds oddly
disconcerted. It was with an effort she spoke in answer.

"I hope he will. That suffering is so terrible."

"It's bad enough," said Burke. "But the morphia habit is worse.
That's damnable."

She drew a sharp breath. She felt almost as if he had struck her
over the heart. "Oh, but surely--" she said--"surely--having it
just once--like that----"

"Do you think he is the sort of man to be satisfied with just once
of anything?" said Burke.

The question did not demand an answer, she made none. With an
effort she controlled her distress and changed the subject.

"How long will Dr. Kieff stay?"

Burke's eyes were upon her again. She wished he would not look at
her so intently. "He will probably see him through," he said.
"How long that will take it is impossible to say. Not long, I
hope."

"You don't like him?" she ventured.

"Personally," said Burke, "I detest him. He is not out here in his
professional capacity. In fact I have a notion that he was kicked
out of that some years ago. But that doesn't prevent him being a
very clever surgeon. He likes a job of this kind."

Sylvia caught at the words. "Then he ought to succeed," she said.
"Surely he will succeed!"

"I think you may trust him to do his best," Burke said.

They spoke but little during the rest of the meal. There seemed to
be nothing to say. In some curious fashion Sylvia felt paralyzed.
She could not turn her thought in any but the one direction, and
she knew subtly but quite unmistakably that in this they were not
in sympathy. It was a relief to her when Burke rose from the
table. She was longing to get back to Guy. She had an almost
overwhelming desire to be alone with him, even though he lay
unconscious of her. They had known each other so long ago, before
she had come to this land of strangers. Was it altogether
unnatural that meeting thus again the old link should have been
forged anew? And his need of her was so great--infinitely greater
now than it had ever been before.

She lingered a few moments to set the table in order for Kieff;
then turned to go to him, and was surprised to find Burke still
standing by the door.

She looked at him questioningly, and as if in answer he laid his
hand upon h