life may make a very great, I might almost say all the
difference, to your future husband, to Mr. Jervis Blake."

Rose's senses started up, like sentinels, to attention.

"You will have need of all your courage, and also of all your good
sense, to help him along a very rough bit of road," he went on
feelingly.

Rose felt a thrill of sudden, unreasonable terror. "What is it?" she
exclaimed. "What is going to happen to him? Is he going to die? I don't
mind what it is, if only you will tell me!" She instinctively moved over
to Sir John Blake's side, and he, as instinctively, put his arm round
her shoulder.

"Mr. Jenkinson agrees with me," said Sir Jacques, slowly and
deliberately, "that his foot, the foot that was crushed, will have to
come off. There is no danger--no reasonable danger, that is--of the
operation costing him his life." He waited a moment, and as she said
nothing, he went on: "But though there is no danger of his losing his
life, there is a very great danger, Miss Otway, of his losing what to
such a man as Jervis Blake counts, I think, for more than life--his
courage. By that of course I do not mean physical bravery, but that
courage, or strength of mind, which enables many men far more afflicted
than he will ever be, to retain their normal outlook on life." Speaking
more to himself, he added, "I have formed a very good opinion of this
young man, and personally I think he will accept this great misfortune
with resignation and fortitude. But one can never tell, and it is always
best to prepare for the worst."

And then, for the first time, Rose spoke. "I understand what you mean,"
she said quietly. "And I thank you very much, Sir Jacques, for having
spoken to me as you have done."

"And now," he said, "one word more. Sir John Blake does not know what I
am going to say, and perhaps my suggestion will not meet with his
approval. It had been settled during the last few days, had it not, that
you and Jervis were to be married before he went back to the Front?
Well, I suggest that you be married now, before the operation takes
place. I am of course thinking of the matter solely from his point of
view--and from my point of view as his surgeon."

Her heartfelt "Thank you" had hardly reached his ear before Sir John
Blake spoke with a kind of harsh directness.

"I don't think anything of the sort can be thought of now. In fact I
would not give my consent to an immediate marriage. I feel certain that
my son,