of more value than a dozen tonics.
She was no longer shut in alone with her own thoughts--with him she
could talk freely and naturally. Even the under-current of hostile
criticism of which she was almost hourly conscious ceased to fret her
nerves.

Insensibly Lord St. John's evident affection for his niece and quiet
appreciation of her musicianship influenced Lady Gertrude for the time
being, softening her attitude towards her future daughter-in-law, even
though it brought her no nearer understanding her. Isobel, alertly
capable of adapting herself to the prevailing atmosphere, reflected in
her manner the same change. She had long since learned to keep the
private workings of her mind locked up--when it seemed advisable.

"I'm glad to see you in what will one day be your own home, Nan," said
Lord St. John. They were sitting alone together in the West Parlour,
chatting in the cosy intimacy of the firelight.

"I'd rather you saw it when it _is_ my own home," she returned with a
rueful smile. "It will look very different then, I hope."

"Yet I'm glad to see it now," he repeated.

There was a slight emphasis on the word "now," and Nan glanced up in
surprise.

"Why now particularly?" she asked, smiling. "Are you going to
cold-shoulder me after I'm married?"

Lord St. John shook his head.

"That's very likely, isn't it?" he said, smiling. "No, my dear, that's
not the reason." He paused as though searching for words, then went on
quietly: "The silver chord is getting a bit frayed, you know, Nan. I'm
an old man, and I'm just beginning to know it."

She caught her breath quickly and her face whitened. Then she forced a
laugh.

"Nonsense, Uncle David! Kitty always declares you're the youngest of
us all."

His eyes smiled back at her.

"Unfortunately, my dear, Time takes no account of a juvenile spirit.
His job is with this body of ours. But the spirit," he added
dreamingly, "and its youthfulness--that's for eternity."

"But you look quite well--_quite_ well," she insisted. And her manner
was the more positive because in her inmost mind she thought she could
detect a slight increase of that frail appearance she had first noticed
on Penelope's wedding-day.

"I've had hints, Nan--Nature's wireless. So I saw Jermyn Carter a few
weeks back--"

"What did he say?" She interrupted swiftly.

"That at my age a man mustn't expect his heart to be the same as in his
twenties."

A silence fell between them