"

"Oh, I don't mind!"

"I only wanted to say that if I can be of any service to you at any time
in any way whatever, please command me."

He gave her hand a squeeze, took his hat off; and Noel walked slowly on.
The little interview, with its suppressions, and its implications, had
but exasperated her restlessness, and yet, in a way, it had soothed the
soreness of her heart. Captain Fort at all events did not despise her;
and he was in trouble like herself. She felt that somehow by the look
of his face, and the tone of his voice when he spoke of Leila. She
quickened her pace. George's words came back to her: "If you're not
ashamed of yourself, no one will be of you!" How easy to say! The old
days, her school, the little half grown-up dances she used to go to,
when everything was happy. Gone! All gone!

But her meetings with Opinion were not over for the day, for turning
again at last into the home Square, tired out by her three hours'
ramble, she met an old lady whom she and Gratian had known from
babyhood--a handsome dame, the widow of an official, who spent her days,
which showed no symptom of declining, in admirable works. Her daughter,
the widow of an officer killed at the Marne, was with her, and the two
greeted Noel with a shower of cordial questions: So she was back from
the country, and was she quite well again? And working at her hospital?
And how was her dear father? They had thought him looking very thin and
worn. But now Gratian was at home--How dreadfully the war kept husbands
and wives apart! And whose was the dear little baby they had in the
house?

"Mine," said Noel, walking straight past them with her head up. In every
fibre of her being she could feel the hurt, startled, utterly bewildered
looks of those firm friendly persons left there on the pavement behind
her; could feel the way they would gather themselves together, and walk
on, perhaps without a word, and then round the corner begin: "What has
come to Noel? What did she mean?" And taking the little gold hoop out of
her pocket, she flung it with all her might into the Square Garden. The
action saved her from a breakdown; and she went in calmly. Lunch was
long over, but her father had not gone out, for he met her in the hall
and drew her into the dining-room.

"You must eat, my child," he said. And while she was swallowing down
what he had caused to be kept back for her, he stood by the hearth in
that favourite attitude of his, one foot on t