like a blazing fire through his veins. Afterwards, with the
tears running down her face, Kitty had helped him out of the room.

Nan's recovery had been slow, and Peter had been compelled to abandon
his intention to see no more of her. She seemed restless and uneasy if
he failed to visit her at least once a day, and throughout those long
weeks of convalescence he had learned anew the same self-sacrifice and
chivalry of spirit which had carried him forward to the utter
renunciation he had made that summer night in King Arthur's Castle.

There was little enough in the fragile figure, lying day after day on a
couch, to rouse a man's passion. Rather, Nan's utter weakness called
forth all the solicitude and ineffable tenderness of which Peter was
capable--such tenderness--almost maternal in its selfless, protective
quality, as is only found in a strong man--never in a weak one.

At last, with the May warmth and sunshine, she had begun to pick up
strength, and now she was actually on the high road to recovery and
demanding for the third or fourth time when they might go to Mallow.

Inwardly she was conscious of an intense craving for the sea, with its
salt, invigorating breath, for the towering cliffs of the Cornish
coast, and the wide expanse of downland that stretched away to landward
till it met and mingled with the tender blue of the sky.

"Strong enough to stand the journey?" she exclaimed in answer to
Kitty's remark. "I should think I am strong enough! I was outdoors
for a couple of hours this morning, and I don't feel the least bit
tired. I'm only lying here"--indicating the Chesterfield with a
humorous little smile that faintly recalled the Nan of former
days--"because I find it so extremely comfortable."

"That may be a slight exaggeration," returned Kitty. "Still, I think
you could travel now. And your coming down to Mallow will rather ease
things."

"Ease things? What things?"

"Your meeting with Lady Gertrude, for one. You may have
forgotten--though you can be sure she hasn't!--that you left Trenby
Hall rather unceremoniously! And then your illness immediately
afterwards prevented your making your peace with her."

Nan's face changed. The light seemed to die out of her eyes.

"I'd almost forgotten Lady Gertrude," she said painfully.

"I don't think you'll find it difficult to meet her again," replied
Kitty. "Roger stopped in town all through the time you were really
dangerously ill--"

"D