How can it be hidden?" he said, as he
pointed to her wounded shoulder, when, with the hot blood suffusing her
face, she dragged the scarf she wore over the deep stain, and essayed to
sit up, but fell back weak, and half fainting.

Laying her gently down, he again fetched water, and bathed her face,
when, reviving somewhat, she lay with her eyes half closed, and lips
moving gently.

"Did you speak?" he said, as he bent over her.

"No," she said, after a few moments. "I was praying. Will you try to
lift me up?"

Philip raised her a little, but she winced from the sharp pain caused by
the movement, upon which he desisted; but, with a smile, she begged him
to help her to her feet. A few moments' trial, though, showed that she
was utterly incapable of walking, when, taking her in his arms, Norton
slowly and carefully bore her amidst the pine trees to the edge of the
marsh, whence, after a brief rest, he again proceeded, bringing her over
the soft, springy ground, till, during a longer rest, he said to her, in
sad tones:

"I thought the age of miracles was past, but an angel was sent to stay
my hand." Then, heedless of her remonstrance, he continued: "How am I
ever to repay you for the injury I have done?"

"By acting as a man should," she said, softly; "by ceasing to be a
coward. You," she exclaimed excitedly, "a soldier--a man whom we
loved--to fly from suffering like that! It was cruel to all--to
Marion--to yourself! How could--"

"For Heaven's sake, spare me!" he groaned. "The sight of what I have
done seems to have brought me back to a life of greater suffering. But
you need not fear; I will bear it."

Book 1, Chapter VIII.

WHAT FOLLOWED.

It was an accident--so people said at Merland, and from being a wonder
for a time, it was soon forgotten; and when, pale and weak from many
months of illness, Ada Lee was seen out, with the tall bronzed soldier
pushing her invalid chair, or reading to her from some book, the gossips
of the village used to prophesy. And yet no word of love had passed
between the invalid and her companion. Ada's prolonged stay at the
Rectory had resulted in Mrs Elstree wishing her to make it her home, on
the grounds of her own loneliness, now that Sir Murray Gernon had, on
account of his wife's health, decided to remain in Italy, where he had
taken a residence on the shores of Como. While Ada, continuing weak and
ill, accepted Philip's attentions with a smile of pleasure, though