ia, dear, I'm glad you've done it. It's the best and right
thing, however hard, and if I could manage to take all the bother of
it for you I would. Honestly, Geoffry wouldn't have been able to help
you, I fear. But as to never marrying, you must not say that or make
rash vows, and you must never, never let yourself think it isn't safe
to marry, or that sort of nonsense. It's in your own hands. We are
always strong enough for our own job, so Caesar says. Shall I find
Renata and ask her to come to you?"

They stood facing each other, an arm's length separating them, and she
looked at him across the little space with so great gratitude and
affection in her eyes that he felt humbled at the little he offered
from so great a store at his heart.

"Christopher, how do girls manage who haven't a brother like you? I've
been fretting because I was all alone and no one to stand by me--will
you forgive me that, dear?"

Her eyes were brimming with tears. She laid her hand on his arm again
and drew nearer. Her entire ignorance of their true relationship to
each other left her a child appealing for some outward sign of the one
dear bond she knew between them.

Christopher recognised it and put his arm round her and she kissed
him. "I'll never forget again that I've got you," she whispered, "such
a dear good brother."

He neither acquiesced nor dissented that point, but very gravely and
quietly he kissed her too, and she thought the bond of fraternity
between then was sealed.

CHAPTER XXVI

Matters were made as easy for Patricia as the united efforts of those
who loved her could compass. Geoffry, in his gratitude for her
decisive action, which lifted the onus of a broken engagement from his
shoulders, found a substantial ground for his belief that they had
sacrificed themselves on the altar of duty. Mrs. Leverson sighed
profoundly with unconscious satisfaction over the highly heroic
behaviour of them both and yielded easily to Geoffry's desire to
travel. They eventually sold Logan Park, which they had purchased
about ten years previously, and passed out of the ken of the lives
that were so nearly linked with theirs.

Life renewed its wonted routine at Marden except that Christopher was
often absent for weeks together. The final experiments hung fire and
he had to seek new material and fresh inspiration further afield, but
never for long. The end of a set term would see him back by Aymer's
side sharing his hopes and di