d the lack of water would be--serious."

"So you approve the plan?" He felt unreasonably glad that she did not
altogether condemn the idea, since, as go he must, he would certainly go
more happily with her approval.

"I shall be terribly anxious all the while," she said simply, "but you
are a brave man. Dr. Anstice, and I do not believe God will let you
suffer for your courage."

"Then I am to go? You will not mind being left alone?"

"No. I think--perhaps--I shall be a little--afraid--if Bruce dies while
you are gone"--a shiver passed through her as she spoke the fatal
words--"but I will try to be brave."

"Mrs. Wood will come and sit here with you," said Anstice quickly; but
Iris shook her head.

"No, she is asleep just now, and I won't awaken her. You know she has
been so anxious about poor little Molly to-day." The child had indeed
been feverish and ailing of late. "But after all, we may be alarming
ourselves unnecessarily, mayn't we? You--you're not _certain_ that Bruce
will die?"

And because he could not bear to see the terror in her face, hear the
quiver of dread in her voice, Anstice lied at last.

"No--I may be wrong after all," he said. "In any case I am not going
yet. I will stay here till the last possible moment. Look--his eyes are
open--come and sit here, where he can see you without moving his head."

And as she obeyed without a word Anstice took up his own position
opposite to her where he could watch every change in the grey face of
the man who had once been his enemy, but was now only a fellow-creature
in the grip of the mightiest enemy of all.

* * * * *

It was nearly ten o'clock before Anstice started on his perilous
adventure.

Shortly before the time fixed for his departure little Molly Wood had
been taken alarmingly ill, with severe pains in her head and a high
temperature, and Anstice had spent an anxious hour beside her improvised
bed before he had the satisfaction of seeing her sink into a quiet sleep
beneath the remedies he employed, and when, leaving the distracted
mother to watch her slumbers, he had crept into Cheniston's room, he had
found Bruce still desperately ill, and Iris paler and yet more wan
beneath the stress of the position in which she found herself.

It was only the imperative need of water which nerved Anstice to leave
her alone, but he knew perfectly well that it would be impossible to
procure any water in daylight, and though