e far eastern sea, bringing a promise of a new order of things
with the coming day.

* * * * *

His bed saw little of Adam Salton for the remainder of that night. He
and Mimi walked hand in hand in the brightening dawn round by the Brow to
Castra Regis and on to Lesser Hill. They did so deliberately, in an
attempt to think as little as possible of the terrible experiences of the
night. The morning was bright and cheerful, as a morning sometimes is
after a devastating storm. The clouds, of which there were plenty in
evidence, brought no lingering idea of gloom. All nature was bright and
joyous, being in striking contrast to the scenes of wreck and
devastation, the effects of obliterating fire and lasting ruin.

The only evidence of the once stately pile of Castra Regis and its
inhabitants was a shapeless huddle of shattered architecture, dimly seen
as the keen breeze swept aside the cloud of acrid smoke which marked the
site of the once lordly castle. As for Diana's Grove, they looked in
vain for a sign which had a suggestion of permanence. The oak trees of
the Grove were still to be seen--some of them--emerging from a haze of
smoke, the great trunks solid and erect as ever, but the larger branches
broken and twisted and rent, with bark stripped and chipped, and the
smaller branches broken and dishevelled looking from the constant stress
and threshing of the storm.

Of the house as such, there was, even at the short distance from which
they looked, no trace. Adam resolutely turned his back on the
devastation and hurried on. Mimi was not only upset and shocked in many
ways, but she was physically "dog tired," and falling asleep on her feet.
Adam took her to her room and made her undress and get into bed, taking
care that the room was well lighted both by sunshine and lamps. The only
obstruction was from a silk curtain, drawn across the window to keep out
the glare. He sat beside her, holding her hand, well knowing that the
comfort of his presence was the best restorative for her. He stayed with
her till sleep had overmastered her wearied body. Then he went softly
away. He found his uncle and Sir Nathaniel in the study, having an early
cup of tea, amplified to the dimensions of a possible breakfast. Adam
explained that he had not told his wife that he was going over the
horrible places again, lest it should frighten her, for the rest and
sleep in ignorance would help her and make a gap of peacefulness bet