to her about it myself."

Honor glanced up quickly.

"No, Evelyn; it would be just as well not. She happened to be crossing
this hill yesterday when you and Mr Kresney were on the lower road;
and--she saw you together."

"Just the sort of thing she _would_ do! I hate Mrs Olliver! Always
spying on me; and I dare say she won't believe the truth even now. But
I won't have her talking to _Theo_ about me, whatever she may
imagine."

"You know her very little if you think she could do that," Honor
answered quietly. "She only spoke to me because she fancies I have
influence with you. But that seems to be over now. You have chosen to
go your own way. It is a very dangerous way. However, I can say
nothing more on the subject."

Evelyn choked back her rising tears.

"Honor, can't you _see_ that--that I'm frightened and miserable about
Theo, and I must have something to help me forget? It's no use trying
to make _you_ understand how it feels to have him away up
there--always in danger----"

Honor started and flushed. "Indeed, dear, I do understand," she
answered, not quite steadily.

Evelyn shook her head.

"You think you do, but you can't really. I know you are great friends
with him, and you'd be very sorry if--if anything happened. But it's
ever so much worse for me, because I am--his wife. Now I must go and
write to him about all this."

And Honor, left alone, leaned back in her chair, hiding her face in
her hands.

"God forgive me!" she murmured. "How dare _I_ find fault with her,
blessed child that she is!"

CHAPTER XXI.

I AM YOURS.

"I knew thee strong and quiet--like the hills;
I knew thee apt to pity, brave to endure."
--R. L. S.

Paul Wyndham's hopes were on the ascendant at last. After a full year
of waiting, he saw himself drawing steadily nearer to his hour of
reward.

He studied Honor Meredith as a man only studies that on which his
life's happiness depends; and during the past few weeks he had become
aware of a mysterious change in the girl's bearing. Her beauty--which
had seemed to him so complete--was now unmistakably enhanced by some
transformation within. Her whole nature seemed to have become more
highly sensitised. Her colour came and went upon the least
provocation; her frank friendliness was veiled by a shy reserve, that
had in it no hint of coldness; and, more significant than all, her
eyes no longer met his own with that