rs, and felt a pang
of compunction. How long was it since she had last thought of her
friend across the sea? Fainter and more faint had his image been
growing, until from forming a constant background to her thoughts, it
had become a positive effort to remember. She turned aside from Will
Gerard's whispered words, and passed her hand through her brother's arm.
To be beside Miles was in itself an incentive to loyalty.

Next morning at eleven o'clock, Betty and Miles started to walk up to
the Alliots' villa, leaving Jill and Will Gerard seated on the shore
throwing pebbles into the sea, with every appearance of satisfaction
with themselves, and their occupation. The path was steep but not very
long, and at the entrance to the garden Mrs Alliot was strolling about,
as if awaiting their arrival. She kissed Betty and patted her
affectionately on the shoulder.

"Cynthia is waiting for you. Run along to her, dear! I will follow
with your brother, and hear some of his news," she said in a light tone
which yet held a hint of command, and, when Betty disappeared, she
turned in an opposite direction, so as to take the least direct path to
the house.

"I am sure your mother is delighted to have you back! It is delightful
that you have been so successful in your work. We have been so
interested in your adventures."

The short conventional sentences were the only references made to Miles'
own affairs, and then, as if in a hurry to get to the subject most on
her mind, Mrs Alliot began to speak of her daughter.

"You will be surprised to find Cynthia looking so well. She has put on
flesh during the last few months, and the sea-air has given her a
colour. Last winter she was painfully thin. It has been a long uphill
struggle, but now at last we begin to see definite improvement. The
doctors are confident that it will be a complete cure if we are very
careful during the next two or three years. The great thing is to live
in pure bracing air, and to keep her happy and cheerful. Anything that
caused agitation or worry of any kind, would have a deleterious effect.
She has a very sensitive nature, and things go deeply with her,--more
deeply than with most girls. Her father and I hide all worries from
her, even our anxiety about herself. We, and all the friends who love
her, must unite in doing everything in our power to spare her during
these all-important years. I know you will understand the position."

"Yes," said