from meeting me? Oh, what beasts, what devils women
are,' he said; 'and the worst of it is that one cannot be even with
them, and they know it. If you only knew,' he said, turning almost
fiercely upon Alice, 'how I loved your sister, you would pity me; but I
suppose it is all over now. Is she very ill?'

'We don't know yet. She has sprained her ankle very badly, and is
shivering terribly; she was lying out all night in the wet wood.'

He did not answer at once. He walked once or twice up and down the room,
and then he said, taking Alice's hand in his, 'Will you be a friend to
me, Miss Barton?' He could get no further, for tears were rolling down
his cheeks.

Alice looked at him tenderly; she was much touched by the manifestation
of his love, and at the end of a long silence she said:

'Now, Captain Hibbert, I want you to listen to me. Don't cry any more,
but listen.'

'I dare say I look a great fool.'

'No, indeed you do not,' she answered; and then in kindly worded phrases
she told him that, at least for the present, he must not attempt to
correspond with Olive. 'Give me your word of honour that you will
neither write nor speak to her for, let us say, six months, and I will
promise to be your friend.'

'I will do anything you ask me to do, but will you in return promise to
write and tell me how she is getting on, and if she is in any danger?'

'I think I can promise to do that; I will write and tell you how Olive
is in a few days. Now we must say good-bye; and you will not forget your
promise to me, as I shall not forget mine to you.'

When Alice went upstairs, Dr. Reed and Mrs. Barton were talking on the
landing.

'And what do you think, doctor?' asked the anxious mother.

'It is impossible to say. She has evidently received a severe nervous
shock, and this and the exposure to which she was subjected may develop
into something serious. You will give her that Dover's powder to-night,
and you will see that she has absolute quiet and rest. Have you got a
reliable nurse?'

'Yes, the young ladies have a maid; I think Barnes can be trusted to
carry out your orders, doctor.'

'Oh, mamma, I hope you will allow me to nurse my sister; I should not
like to leave her in charge of a servant.'

'I am afraid you are not strong enough, dear.'

'Oh, yes, I am; am I not strong enough, doctor?'

Dr. Reed looked for a moment steadily at Alice. 'Your sister will,' he
said, 'require a good deal of looking after. But if