them, but he knew that she had not given him all,
and she knew it also. But she hoped he did not know, and she dreaded the
hour when he would speak out of his now full heart. He did not yet urge
his affection on her, he was simply devoted, and watchful, and tender,
and delightedly hopeful.

But one night she came tapping at his door. When he opened it, she said:
"Oh come, come! Richard is ill! I have sent for the doctor."

Henceforth she was her old self again, with a transformed spirit, her
motherhood spending itself in a thousand ways. She who was weak bodily
became now much stronger; the light of new vigour came to her eyes; she
and her husband, in the common peril, worked together, thinking little
of themselves, and all of the child. The last stage of the journey to
happiness was being passed, and if it was not obvious to themselves, the
others, Marion and Captain Vidall included, saw it.

One anxious day, after the family doctor had left the sick child's room,
Marion, turning to the father and mother, said: "Greyhope will be itself
again. I will go and tell Richard that the danger is over."

As she turned to do so, Richard entered the room. "I have seen the
doctor," he began, "and the little chap is going to pull along like a
house afire."

Tapping Frank affectionately on the arm, he was about to continue,
but he saw what stopped him. He saw the last move in Frank Armour's
tragic-comedy. He and Marion left the room as quickly as was possible
to him, for, as he said himself, he was "slow at a quick march"; and
a moment afterwards the wife heard without demur her husband's tale of
love for her.

Yet, as if to remind him of the wrong he had done, Heaven never granted
Frank Armour another child.

ETEXT EDITOR'S BOOKMARKS:

Being young, she exaggerated the importance of the event
Every man should have laws of his own
Flood came which sweeps away the rust that gathers in the eyes
His duties were many, or he made them so
How can one force one's heart? No, no! One has to wait
If fumbling human fingers do not meddle with it
Man or woman must not expect too much out of life
May be more beautiful in uncertain England than anywhere else
Men must have their bad hours alone
Men are shy with each other where their emotions are in play
Miseries of this world are caused by forcing issues
Most important lessons of life--never to quarrel with a woman