er see that man again.
How's it to be done?"

She moved up and down--all practical energy and impatience--her mood
wholly altered. His own adapted itself to hers.

"For the present, fear nothing," he said, dryly. "For his own sake
Cliffe will hold his tongue and leave London. And as to the future--I
can get some message conveyed to him--by a man he won't disregard. Leave
it to me."

"You can't write to him, William!" cried Kitty, passionately.

"Leave it to me," he repeated. "Then suppose you take the boy--and
Margaret French--to Haggart till I can join you?"

"And your mother?" she said, timidly, coming to stand beside him and
laying a hand on each shoulder.

"Leave that also to me."

"How she'll hate the sight of me," she said, under her breath. Then,
with another tone of voice--"How long, William, do you give the
government?"

"Six months, perhaps--perhaps less. I don't see how they can last beyond
February."

"And then--we'll <i>fight</i>!" said Kitty, with a long breath, smoothing
back the hair from his brow.

"Allow me, please, to command the forces! Well, now then, I must be
off!" He tried to rise, but she still held him.

"Did you have any breakfast, William?"

"I don't remember."

"Sit still and eat one of my sandwiches." She divided one into strips,
and standing over him began to feed him. A knock at the door arrested
her.

"Don't move!" she said, peremptorily, before she ran to open the door.

"Please, my lady," said Blanche, "Lady Tranmore would like to see you."

Kitty started and flushed. She looked round uncertainly at Ashe.

"Ask her ladyship to come up," said Ashe, quietly.

The maid departed.

"Feed me if you want to, Kitty," said Ashe, still seated.

Kitty returned, her breath hurried, her step wavering. She looked
doubtfully at Ashe--then her eyes sparkled--as she understood. She
dropped on her knees beside him, kissing the sleeve of his coat, against
which her cheek was pressed--in a passion of repentance.

He bent towards her, touching her hair, murmuring over her. His mind
meanwhile was torn with feelings which, so to speak, observed each
other. This thing which had happened was horribly serious--important. It
might easily have wrecked two lives. Had he dealt with it as he
ought--made Kitty feel the gravity of it?

Then the optimist in him asked impatiently what was "the good of
exaggerating the damned business"? That fellow has got his lesson--could
be driven headlon