his face
and his great frame shook with silent sobbing.

"But you must be very quiet and steady."

Immediately he was on his feet and standing like a soldier at attention.

"Ay, A wull," he whispered eagerly. "Tell me what tae do?"

"First of all," said Adrien, "we must have something to eat."

A shudder passed through him. "Eat?" he said, as if he had never heard
the word.

"Yes," said Adrien. "Remember, you promised."

"Ay. A'll eat." Like a man under a mesmeric spell, he went through the
motions of eating. His mind was far away, his eyes eager, alert, forever
upon her face.

When they had finished their meal, Adrien said:

"Now, Mr. McNish, is there anything I can do for you?"

"A would like to send word to ma mither," he said. "She disna ken
onything--aboot--aboot Annette--aboot Annette an' me," a faint touch of
red coming slowly up in his grey face.

"I shall get word to her. I know the very man. I shall phone the
Reverend Murdo Matheson."

"Ay," said McNish, "he is the man."

"Now, then," said Adrien, placing him in an easy chair, "you must rest
there. Remember, I am keeping watch."

With the promise that he would do his best to rest, she left him sitting
bolt upright in his chair.

Toward morning, Maitland appeared, weary and haggard. Adrien greeted him
with tender solicitude; it was almost maternal in its tone.

"Oh, Adrien," said Maitland, with a great sight of relief, "you don't
know how good it is to see you here. It bucks one tremendously to feel
that you are on this job."

"I shall get you some breakfast immediately," she answered in a calm,
matter-of-fact voice. "You are done out. Your father has come in and has
gone to lie down. McNish is in the library."

"And Annette?" said Maitland. He was biting his lips to keep them from
quivering. "Is she still--"

"She is resting. The maid is watching beside her. Dear Jack," she
uttered with a quick rush of sympathy, "I know how hard this is for you.
But I am not without hope for Annette."

A quick light leaped into his eyes. "Hope, did you say? Oh, thank the
good Lord." His voice broke and he turned away from her. "You know," he
said, coming back, "she gave her life for me. Oh, Adrien, think of it!
She threw herself in the way of death for me. She covered me with her
own body." He sat down suddenly as if almost in collapse, and buried his
head in his arms, struggling for control.

Adrien went to him and put her arm round his shoulder--sh