services
of an ordinary nurse for a few days would meet every necessity.
Williams was sent with a hired vehicle to the market town, seven miles
away, and late at night returned with the woman recommended. Alma
meanwhile had lain quietly, and the household at length went to rest
without renewal of alarms.

Twice before dawn Harvey left his room and stepped silently to Alma's
door. The first time, he heard low voices; the second, there was no
sound. When, about eight o'clock, he went down and out into the garden,
he was surprised to meet Mrs. Abbott. She had already seen the nurse
this morning, and reported that all was going well. Rolfe talked
cheerfully again, and would not listen to his guest's timid suggestion
that she should take leave today. Not a bit of it; she was to go down
to the seashore and enjoy the sunshine, and worry herself just as
little as possible. At breakfast-time came a message from Alma to the
same effect. Mrs. Abbott was on no account to cut short her visit, and
Harvey was to do his duty as host. She herself, said Mrs. Rolfe, would
be as well as ever in a day or two.

For all that, when the appointed day for the guest's departure came,
Alma still lay blanched and feeble, not likely to leave her bed for
another week. She was, however, in a remarkably cheerful frame of mind.
Having to start on her journey as early as half-past eight, Mrs. Abbott
bade good-bye to her hostess the evening before, and nothing could have
been kinder or more amiable than Alma's behaviour.

'Don't bear a grudge against me for spoiling your holiday,' she said,
holding her guest's hand and smiling brightly. 'If I say all is for the
best, perhaps you'll understand me, and perhaps you won't; it sounds
pious at all events, doesn't it? We must see each other again, you
know--here or somewhere else. I'm quite sure we can be friends. Of
course, Harvey will go with you in the morning.'

Mrs. Abbott begged he would do nothing of the kind, but Alma was
imperative.

'Of course he will! If it rains, a covered carriage will be here in
time. And write to me--mind you write to me; not only to say you've got
safe home, but in future. You promise?'

In the morning it did rain, and heavily, so Harvey and his friend drove
to the station shut up together, with scarce a glimpse of anything
beyond the boulder walls and gorse hedges and dripping larch-trees.
They spoke a good deal of Alma. As soon as she was well again, said
Rolfe, he must