d never
act too hastily--without looking all round the subject, so to speak."

"Yes. And yet--sometimes--if one stopped to think of the consequences
one would be afraid to act, and let the vital moment slip," she said
rather dreamily. "Of course there is always the afterwards----"

"Do you know of what that reminds me?" He spoke quickly. "Once, long ago
when I was a student, I picked up a book of old plays at a bookstall in
the Charing Cross Road. And in one of the plays I came across this
sentence: 'The deed itself may be the work of a moment; but there is
always the long, long _afterwards_ with which to reckon.'"

His voice died away; but she said nothing, though her eyes betokened her
interest; and presently he resumed.

"Well, that sentence has haunted me pretty frequently of late--it has
run through the years like the saying of some avenging angel. I have
known what the reckoning with the _afterwards_ may be--sometimes,
indeed, I have feared that reckoning will never be paid."

"Dr. Anstice," she said quietly, "you are wrong. The reckoning _is_
paid; the atonement _is_ made; and I am quite sure that the future--for
you--will be rid for ever of the haunting shadow of the past. And"--her
cheeks blanched suddenly as a clamour arose in the courtyard outside--"I
think the future is beginning--with trouble and danger--now."

"I believe you are right." Turning impetuously to the window, which for
a moment he had neglected, he found Hassan, his eyeballs rolling
horribly in his dusky face, leaning out excitedly; and as he too craned
into the lifting darkness Anstice saw that the moment of attack was at
hand.

Without warning save that given by their exultant shouts the Bedouins
were swarming over the wall, clambering over like great cats, dropping
with sundry thuds on to the sandy ground beneath; and in another moment
Anstice saw that they carried roughly fashioned scaling ladders, with
which they evidently intended to force an entrance, should that be
possible in the face of the defenders' fire.

"See here, Mrs. Cheniston." Anstice spoke almost curtly. "Will you go
into the other room now? You are safer there, and out of harm's way for
the time, at least."

"No, Dr. Anstice." She spoke determinedly. "I am going to stay here. You
have spare revolvers, haven't you? Then I can load for you and for
Hassan, at any rate, even if I can't be of other use."

"You know how?" He was surprised.

"Yes. My father taught me