en
she went swiftly to the door and tried if it was locked. Satisfied as to
this, she came quickly over to the fire, and, kneeling before it,
stretched out her numbed hands to the blaze. Almost on the instant her
wet shroud began to steam. I stood wondering. The precautions of
secrecy in the midst of her suffering--for that she did suffer was only
too painfully manifest--must have presupposed some danger. Then and
there my mind was made up that there should no harm assail her that I by
any means could fend off. Still, the present must be attended to;
pneumonia and other ills stalked behind such a chill as must infallibly
come on her unless precautions were taken. I took again the
dressing-gown which she had worn before and handed it to her, motioning
as I did so towards the screen which had made a dressing-room for her on
the former occasion. To my surprise she hesitated. I waited. She
waited, too, and then laid down the dressing-gown on the edge of the
stone fender. So I spoke:

"Won't you change as you did before? Your--your frock can then be dried.
Do! It will be so much safer for you to be dry clad when you resume your
own dress."

"How can I whilst you are here?"

Her words made me stare, so different were they from her acts of the
other visit. I simply bowed--speech on such a subject would be at least
inadequate--and walked over to the window. Passing behind the curtain, I
opened the window. Before stepping out on to the terrace, I looked into
the room and said:

"Take your own time. There is no hurry. I dare say you will find there
all you may want. I shall remain on the terrace until you summon me."
With that I went out on the terrace, drawing close the glass door behind
me.

I stood looking out on the dreary scene for what seemed a very short
time, my mind in a whirl. There came a rustle from within, and I saw a
dark brown figure steal round the edge of the curtain. A white hand was
raised, and beckoned me to come in. I entered, bolting the window behind
me. She had passed across the room, and was again kneeling before the
fire with her hands outstretched. The shroud was laid in partially
opened folds on one side of the hearth, and was steaming heavily. I
brought over some cushions and pillows, and made a little pile of them
beside her.

"Sit there," I said, "and rest quietly in the heat." It may have been
the effect of the glowing heat, but there was a rich colour in her face