became frequent; but the self-imposed
restraint, mutually practised, had a wearing effect on the nerves of
both.

And all the while, gossip in connection with Ray Meredith filtered
through from various sources, and caused no little comment among his
friends.

At last a letter to Mrs. Bright from Mrs. Ironsides, who was spending a
month at the Sanitorium, placed it beyond doubt that Ray Meredith was
very securely in the toils of his former nurse who was in the same
hotel, in charge of a child suffering from jaundice.

"She has been in Darjeeling, with one pretext and another, I am told,
ever since Mr. Meredith recovered," the lady wrote, "and people are
beginning to look askance at her for the flagrant manner in which she
flaunts her ascendancy over him. It is a thousand pities his wife is not
with him, for he is at the woman's heels morning, noon, and night.
Rumour says their rooms adjoin! I should feel inclined to blame him
soundly were it not for the fact that he looks very delicate since his
illness, and that people recovering from sunstroke are not altogether
themselves. Possibly he is merely drifting for want of someone
sufficiently interested in him to save him! Whatever it is, this Mrs.
Dalton must be an abandoned creature, for she is indifferent to the fact
that she is creating a disgusting scandal. When you think of how devoted
that man was to his pretty little wife, you feel inclined, to believe
anything of men! But, as I say, he cannot be himself. Let us hope it is
only due to the sunstroke, and that his wife will come out soon and look
after him."

Honor took this news to heart and wrote the appeal to Joyce of which the
reader is already aware: she also gradually brought her mind to the
point of speaking frankly to Captain Dalton on the subject.

Since her return from the hills, two weeks before, she had not met him
alone, so that when she asked him, in a little note to see her at the
Club next morning on a matter of some anxiety, he was naturally full of
wonderment as he drove to keep the appointment.

The marker, alone, was in possession of the Club and in his office, when
Dalton arrived, so that the meeting was undisturbed.

"You are surprised that I should have sent for you?" Honor said, as she
stepped off her bicycle, having greeted him with a friendly nod. Had she
given him her hand he would have noticed that it was trembling.

"Pleased, as well as surprised," said he, feasting his soul on th