clothes; on the pillow was a swathe of bandages, with barely an
inch between to show the small, scarred face. The night before, with
tossing curls, flushed cheeks, and curving coral lips, he had lain a
picture of childish beauty, at sight of which his parents' hearts had
glowed with tenderness and pride as they paid their good-night visit.

"He looks flushed. All this rehearsing is exciting. I shall be glad
when the tableaux are over," Geoffrey had said, and Joan had whispered
back ardently--

"But so _lovely_! If he looks like that to-morrow!"

And this was to-morrow; and there on the bed lay Jack, shorn, blinded,
tortured--a marble image that moaned, and moaned...

Through the night telephone and telegraph had been busy summoning the
most skilful aid. Here at least was one blessing of wealth--that the
question of expense need never be considered. This man for eyes, that
man for skin, a third for shock to the nerves; the cleverest nurses, the
newest appliances--the wonderful wires summoned them each in turn.
Throughout the night motor-cars whirled up the drive, tall men in top
coats, nurses in cloaks and bonnets, dismantled and passed into the
house, mysterious cases were hurried up back stairways. Joan and her
husband were banished from the sickroom, and sat in her boudoir awaiting
the verdict. It was the first time they had been alone together since
the accident, and when the door closed behind them Joan glanced at her
husband with a quivering fear. His face was white and drawn. He looked
old, and bowed, and broken, but there was no anger in his face.

"Geoffrey! Will you ever forgive me?"

For all answer he held out his arms. The old look of love was in his
eyes, the old beautiful softness; there was no bitterness in his look,
no anger, not the faintest shadow of blame.

"Dearest, don't! We both suffer. We must keep strong. We must help
each other."

"Geoff, you warned me. You said it would be bad. It was against your
wish ... It's my fault!"

"Darling, darling, don't make it worse!" He pressed her head against
his shoulder with tender, soothing touches. "No one could have
foreseen. I feared for excitement only; there was no thought of danger.
We have enough to bear, sweetheart. Don't torture yourself
needlessly."

"It's my doing, it's my punishment; I brought it about. I've been cold,
and selfish, and ungrateful. I had so much I ought to have been so
thankful, but I was disconten