?"

There was something about Fisher just then with which Mrs. Langdale was
wholly unacquainted. He was alert, impatient, almost feverish. She
answered him with brevity.

"I think she is stunned by the news."

He began to pace to and fro with heavy restlessness.

"Ask her to come to me if she is up!" he said at length. "Tell her--tell
her not to be afraid! Say I am waiting for her. I must see her."

Mrs. Langdale hesitated.

"She asked me to leave her alone," she said irresolutely.

Fisher wheeled swiftly round.

"I don't think she will refuse to see me," he said. "At least try!"

There was entreaty in his voice, urgent entreaty, which Mrs. Langdale
found herself unable to withstand.

She departed therefore on her thankless errand and Fisher flung himself
down at the table with his face buried in his hands. In this room but a
few short hours ago Charlie had faced and turned away his anger with all
the courage and sweetness which, combined, had made of him the hero he
was.

It seemed to Fisher, looking back upon the interview, that the boy had
done a braver thing, had offered a sacrifice more splendid, there, in
that room, than any he had done or offered a little later down on the
howling shore.

There came a slight sound at the door and Fisher jerked himself upright.
Molly had entered softly. She was standing, looking at him with a
strange species of wonder on her white face. He rose instantly and went
to meet her.

"I have something to give you, Molly," he said. She raised her eyes
questioningly.

"It was brought to me," he said, controlling his voice to quietness with
a strong effort, "after Mrs. Langdale went to tell you of--what had
happened. I wish to give it to you myself. And--afterwards to ask you a
question."

"What is it?" Molly asked, with a sudden sharp eagerness.

"A note," Fisher said, and gave her a folded paper. "It was found on his
dressing-table, addressed to you. His servant brought it to me."

Molly's hand trembled as she took the missive.

Fisher turned away from her, and stood before the window in dead
silence. There was a long, quiet pause. Then a sudden sound made him
swing swiftly round and stride to the door to turn the key. The next
moment he was stooping over Molly, who had sunk down on the hearth-rug
and was sobbing terrible, anguished sobs.

He lifted her to a chair with no fuss of words, and knelt beside her,
stroking her hair, comforting her, with something of a w