ke had brought in the long chair
for her and made her lie down while she watched. He brought her
food also, and they ate together in the quiet room where the
ever-changing breathing of the man upon the bed was the only sound.

He would have left them alone then, but she whispered to him to
come back.

He came and bent over her. "I'll smoke on the _stoep_," he said.
"You have only to raise your voice if you want-me, and I shall
hear."

She slipped her arms about his neck, and drew him down to her. "I
want you--all the time," she whispered.

He kissed her on lips and hair, but he would not stay. She heard
him pass out on to the _stoep_, and there fell a deep silence.

It seemed to lap her round like a vast and soundless sea.
Presently she was drifting upon it, sometimes dipping under,
sometimes bringing herself to the surface with a deliberate effort
of the will, lest Guy should come back and need her. She was
unutterably tired, and the rest was balm to her weary soul, but
still, she fought against complete repose, until, like the falling
of a mist, oblivion came at last very softly upon her, and she sank
into the deeps of slumber. . . .

It must have been some time later that something spoke within her,
recalling her. She raised herself quickly and looked at Guy to
find his eyes no longer roving but fixed upon her. She thought his
breathing must be easier, for he spoke without effort.

"Fetch Burke!" he said.

She started up to obey. There was that about Guy at the moment
which she had never seen before, a curious look of knowledge, a
strength new-born that, was purely spiritual. But ere she reached
the window, Burke was there. He came straight in and went to Guy.
And she knew that the end was very near.

Instinctively she drew back as the two men met. She had a strong
feeling that her presence was not needed, was almost an intrusion.
Yet she could not bring herself to go, till suddenly Burke turned
to her and drew her forward.

"He wants you to say good-bye to him," he said, "and then--to go."

It was very tenderly spoken. His hand pressed her shoulder, and
the pressure was reassuring, infinitely sustaining.

She bent over Guy. He looked straight up at her, and though the
mystery of Death was in his eyes they held no fear. They even
faintly smiled upon her.

"Good-bye, darling!" he said softly. "Think of me sometimes--when
you've nothing better to do!"

She found and clasped his hand.