t I don't suppose
you ever saw a man weep before: well, you've seen it now: mon
Dieu, mon Dieu, but I am tired! But you've let yourself in for a
considerable responsibility."

"For what?"

"For me. Do you think it can ever again be the same between us?"
On one knee by Isabel's chair, Hyde laughed down at her with his
brilliant eyes, irreticent and unsparing of timidity in others.
"Do you think I could have leaned my head on any hands but
yours?"

He came too near, he touched her. Isabel had gone through a
great deal that day, but, with the cruel and sordid history of
Hyde's married life fresh in her mind, none of the material
horrors at Wancote had produced in her such a shuddering recoil
as now. His wife had not been dead six months! "Captain Hyde,
how dare you?"

"I beg your pardon."

Lawrence drew himself up, a good-humoured smile on his lips: but
they were pale. "I--I didn't mean to hurt you," faltered
Isabel, as the tension of his silence reached her. What right
had she, a young girl, to impose her own code of delicacy on a
man of Hyde's age and standing?--Lawrence looked at her
searchingly and his eyes changed, the sad irony died out of them,
and rapidly, imperceptibly, he returned to his normal manner.

"Nor I to frighten you. Why, what a child it is, after all!
Yes, your hands are strong, but they aren't practised yet. Never
mind, you shall forget or remember anything you like, except this
one thing which it pleases me and may please you to remember that
I'm very glad you know the worst and weakest of me--"

"Isabel, are you there?"

Thus daily life revenges itself on those who forget its
existence.

"That is Val's voice," said Lawrence. He stood up, no longer
pale. "Heavens, I can't face him!"

"Oh dear!" said Isabel in dismay. She was no more anxious for
them to meet than Lawrence was, but Val's footstep on the turf
was dangerously near. But he was making for the middle of the
lilac-hedge, for the red rose archway and the asphalt walk
between reddening apple trees: and Isabel was sitting near the
end, close to the garden wall. She flew out of her chair, held
up a branch while Lawrence squeezed between the wall and the
lilacs, and flew back and curled up again. The lilac leaves had
not finished twinkling and rustling when Val appeared.

"How are you, invalid? I came home early on purpose to look
after you." He was in well-worn grey riding clothes, booted and
spurred, his