dly,
resolutely, with a proud lift of her chin, never looking at him once.

He walked beside her, bewildered and distressed, refraining from
speech till she should be more nearly mistress of herself, and lightly
holding her arm, because she was so evidently in need of support. She
tightened her lips and mastered an imperious impulse to free herself
from his touch. His unspoken solicitude unnerved her; and a sigh of
pure relief escaped her when he set her down upon a chair, and went
over to the sideboard for some wine.

She sipped it slowly, supporting her head, and at the same time
shielding her eyes from his troubled scrutiny. He sat beside her, on
the table's edge, and waited till the wineglass was half empty before
he spoke.

"Did you feel at all ill this morning? I'll go for Mackay at once to
make sure there's nothing wrong."

"No--no." There was a touch of impatience in her tone. "Please don't
bother. It is nothing. It will pass."

"I didn't mean to vex you," he answered humbly. "But you are not the
sort of woman who goes white to the lips for nothing. Either you are
ill, or you are badly upset. You promised John to let me take his
place while he was away, and if you are in any trouble or
difficulty,--don't shut me out. You have done immensely much for both
of us. Give me the chance to do a little for you. Remember, Honor,"
his voice took a deeper note of feeling, "you are more to me than the
Major's sister or Ladybird's friend. You are mine, too. Won't you tell
me what's wrong?"

At that she pulled herself together and faced him with a brave
semblance of a smile.

"I am very proud to be your friend, Theo. But there are times when the
truest friendship is just to stand on one side and ask no questions.
That is what I want you to do now. Please believe that if you could
help me, even a little, I would not shut you out."

"I believe you--and I'll not say another word. You will go and lie
down, perhaps, till tiffin time?"

"No. I think I will go to Ladybird. She badly needs comforting. You
broke your news to us rather abruptly, you know. We are not hardened
yet, like Frank, to the boot-and-saddle life here."

"I'm sorry. It was thoughtless of me. We are all so used to it. One's
apt to forget----"

He rose and took a few steps away from her; then, returning, stood
squarely before her. She had risen also, partly to prove her own
strength, and partly to put an end to the strain of being alone with
him.