and took her hand, but in a moment his fingers
were feeling for her pulse. He looked straight down at her.
"You've had a bad night," he said.

She admitted it, mustering a smile as she did so. "It rained so
hard, I couldn't forget it. Has it left off yet?"

He paid no attention whatever to the question. "What's the
trouble?" he said. "Knee bad?"

"Not very comfortable," she confessed. "It will be better
presently, no doubt."

"I'll dress if again," said Burke, "when you've had some tea. You
had better stay in bed to-day."

"Oh, must I?" she said in dismay.

"Don't you want to?" said Burke.

"No. I hate staying in bed. It makes me so miserable." She spoke
with vehemence. Besides--besides----"

"Yes?" he said.

"I want--to see Guy," she ended, colouring very deeply.

"That's out of the question," said Burke, with quiet decision.
"You certainly won't see him to-day."

"Oh, but I must! I really must!" she pleaded desperately. "My
knee isn't very bad. Have you--have you told him I am here yet?"

"No," said Burke.

"Then won't you? Please won't you?" She was urging him almost
feverishly now. "I can't rest till I have seen him--indeed. I
can't see my way clearly. I can't do anything until--until I have
seen him."

Burke was frowning. He looked almost savage, But she was not
afraid of him. She could think only of Guy at that moment and of
her urgent need to see him. It was all that mattered. With nerves
stretched and quivering, she waited for his answer.

It did not come immediately. He was still holding her hand in one
of his and feeling her pulse with the other.

"Listen!" he said at length. "There is no need for all this
wearing anxiety. You must make up your mind to rest to-day, or you
will be ill. It won't hurt you--or him either--to wait a few hours
longer."

"I shan't be ill!" she assured him earnestly. "I am never ill.
And I want to see him--oh, so much. I must see him. He isn't--he
isn't worse?"

"No," said Burke.

"Then why mustn't I see him?" she urged. "Why do you look like
that? Are you keeping back something? Has--has something happened
that you don't want me to know? Ah, that is it! I thought so!
Please tell me what it is! It is far better to tell me."

She drew her hand from his and sat up, steadily facing him. She
was breathing quickly, but she had subdued her agitation. Her eyes
met his unflinchingly.

He made an abrupt gesture--as if compelle