nd heard what he had
already learned from the doctor, that he was doing as well as could be
expected.

"By the way, Mr. Monk," she added; "if you can spare a few minutes after
dinner, and are not too tired, he would so much like to see you."

"Of course," answered Morris a little nervously, for he scented a
display of fervent gratitude.

After this they dropped into desultory conversation, curiously different
from the intimate talk which passed between them in the boat. Then
they had been in danger, and at times in the very shadow of Death; a
condition that favours confidences since those who stand beneath his
wings no longer care to hide their hearts. The reserves which so largely
direct our lives are lifted, their necessity is past, and in the face of
the last act of Nature, Nature asserts herself. Who cares to continue to
play a part when the audience has dispersed, the curtain is falling, and
the pay-box has put up its shutters? Now, very unexpectedly these two
were on the stage again, and each assumed the allotted role.

Stella admired the room; whereon Morris set to work to explain its
characteristics, to find, to his astonishment, that Miss Fregelius
had more knowledge of architecture than he could boast. He pointed out
certain details, alleging them to be Elizabethan work, to which age they
had been credited for generations, whereon she suggested and, indeed,
proved, that some of them dated from the earlier years of Henry VIII.,
and that some were late Jacobean. While Morris was wondering how he
could combat this revolutionary opinion, the servant brought in a
telegram. It was from Mary, at Beaulieu, and ran:

"Had not heard that you were drowned, but am deeply thankful that you
are saved. Why did you pass a night at sea in this weather? Is it a
riddle? Grieved to say my father not so well. Best love, and please keep
on shore. MARY."

At first Morris was angry with this rather flippant message; then he
laughed. As he had already discovered, in fact, his anxieties had been
quite groundless. The page-boy, Thomas, it appeared, when questioned,
had given the inquirers to understand that his master had gone out to
fish, taking his breakfast with him. Later, on his non-appearance,
he amended this statement, suggesting out of the depths of a fertile
imagination, that he had sailed down to Northwold, where he meant to
pass the night. Therefore, although the cook, a far-seeing woman who
knew her Thomas and hat