nature before," said Stephens. "I can hardly
say that I had a nature to understand. I lived for what was unimportant,
and I neglected what was vital."

"Oh, a good shake-up does nobody any harm," the Colonel remarked. "Too
much of the feather-bed-and-four-meals-a-day life is not good for man or
woman."

"It is my firm belief," said Mrs. Belmont, gravely, "that there was not
one of us who did not rise to a greater height during those days in the
desert than ever before or since. When our sins come to be weighed, much
may be forgiven us for the sake of those unselfish days."

They all sat in thoughtful silence for a little while the scarlet
streaks turned to carmine, and the grey shadows deepened, and the
wild-fowl flew past in dark straggling V's over the dull metallic
surface of the great smooth-flowing Nile. A cold wind had sprung up from
the eastward, and some of the party rose to leave the deck. Stephens
leaned forward to Sadie.

"Do you remember what you promised when you were in the desert?" he
whispered.

"What was that?"

"You said that if you escaped you would try in future to make some one
else happy."

"Then I must do so."

"You have," said he, and their hands met under the shadow of the table.

THE END.

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