that you were not at fault, in any way. Indeed, I feel grateful for
your forbearance when I first came. But, if you don't mind, we won't
speak of it again. It--it distresses me."

He saw plainly that she had blushed, in spite of the fact that she
turned her head swiftly away, and remained silent until she came again
with a teaspoonful of something he must swallow.

So she sat down again and her mind reverted to the future, which was
certainly immeasurably splendid and promising, as compared to the
outlook of a fortnight before. In her pockets were the letters she had
written to this man. Dr. Starr had brought them to her one day, when
Hugo was already able to listen and understand.

"I think they were intended for me," said the latter, gently.

"No!" exclaimed Madge, reddening and leaping from her stool. "Please
give them to me, Dr. Starr. They were sent to an utterly unknown man.
They were replies to letters you never sent and therefore they're not
yours. Please--I--I'd rather you didn't see them!"

The young man had nodded, quietly.

"Of course they're yours," he acknowledged. "We--we won't mention them
again, if it's your wish."

"Indeed--indeed it is. They were just a cry for help--for a chance to
live--perhaps for a little happiness. Dr. Starr has now offered me all
these things and I have accepted--ever so gratefully. I--I had taken a
step that was utter folly, yes, absolute madness. But now the most
wonderful good fortune has brought me the fulfilment of these desires
and I want to forget all the rest--the burning shame I have felt as
well as the terror with which I approached whatever was in store for
me. That part of it will pass away like some bad dream, I hope.
It's--it's kind of you not to insist on seeing these letters."

"That's all right, Miss Nelson," said the doctor, soothingly. "Hugo,
my lad, you owe a good deal to your nurse and I'm glad that you're
properly grateful and not unduly curious."

But Hugo called Maigan to him, without answering, and patted the
animal's head, after which he remarked that the days were getting much
longer.

Came another day when the patient was able to get up, with the aid of
Stefan and his nurse, and manifested the usual surprise of the strong
man after illness. It was astonishing that his legs were so weak, and
he couldn't understand the dizzy sensations in his head.

After a time he became able to use his arm a little, very cautiously,
and his joy was grea