mise, won't you?" she persisted, in a whisper. "It's only
'in case'--just that I needn't worry myself."

Joan looked up. There was something in the eyes looking down upon her
that seemed to be compelling her.

"If you'll promise to try and get better," she answered.

Mrs. Phillips stooped and kissed her. "Of course, dear," she said.
"Perhaps I shall, now that my mind is easier."

Phillips came, as Mrs. Phillips had predicted. He was surprised at
seeing Joan. He had not thought she could get back so soon. He brought
an evening paper with him. It contained a paragraph to the effect that
Mrs. Phillips, wife of the Rt. Hon. Robert Phillips, M.P., was
progressing favourably and hoped soon to be sufficiently recovered to
return to her London residence. It was the first time she had had a
paragraph all to herself, headed with her name. She flushed with
pleasure; and Joan noticed that, after reading it again, she folded the
paper up small and slipped it into her pocket. The nurse came in from
her walk a little later and took Joan downstairs with her.

"She ought not to talk to more than one person at a time," the nurse
explained, with a shake of the head. She was a quiet, business-like
woman. She would not express a definite opinion.

"It's her mental state that is the trouble," was all that she would say.
"She ought to be getting better. But she doesn't."

"You're not a Christian Scientist, by any chance?" she asked Joan
suddenly.

"No," answered Joan. "Surely you're not one?"

"I don't know," answered the woman. "I believe that would do her more
good than anything else. If she would listen to it. She seems to have
lost all will-power."

The nurse left her; and the landlady came in to lay the table. She
understood that Joan would be dining with Mr. Phillips. There was no
train till the eight-forty. She kept looking at Joan as she moved about
the room. Joan was afraid she would begin to talk, but she must have
felt Joan's antagonism for she remained silent. Once their eyes met, and
the woman leered at her.

Phillips came down looking more cheerful. He had detected improvement in
Mrs. Phillips. She was more hopeful in herself. They talked in low
tones during the meal, as people do whose thoughts are elsewhere. It
happened quite suddenly, Phillips explained. They had come down a few
days after the rising of Parliament. There had been a spell of hot
weather; but nothing remarkable. The fir