soft, light gown, and in her breast, as once
before, she had fastened the bunch of violets with the little pearl
heart brooch. She had debated in her own mind as to whether she should
put on the ring which she had found in the dispatch-box--as to whether
it was necessary to dress the part with such a strict regard for
detail; but a strong disinclination urged her against it, and yet at
the time she had wondered why such a small thing should be so against
the grain when others so much more important were unconsidered. It was
very like the proverbial "straining at a gnat to swallow a camel." Be
this as it might, she had replaced the ring where she found it and
locked the box again.

"The likeness is extraordinary," muttered the doctor, half to himself.

He seemed nervous and ill at ease, as he opened the door of the
sitting-room and preceded Philippa.

"I will go first if you will allow me," he said.

A screen had been placed at the entrance, and it was not until she had
passed round it that Philippa realised she was in the presence of the
man she had come to see. The sofa had been drawn forward and he was
lying on it, propped up with pillows. The nurse was sitting beside him.

"I have redeemed my promise," said the doctor cheerfully. "I have
brought Miss Harford to see you. But she must only stay a few minutes,
and less than that if you don't obey orders and keep quiet."

It struck Philippa that he was speaking in order to give her time to
decide on her first words, and needlessly so, for she was conscious of
no trace of nervousness. She was looking straight at Francis, whose
eyes were fixed upon her with the look of joy and welcome she had seen
in them before, as she stepped quickly forward.

"Ah!" she said, "I did not expect to see you on the sofa. It must mean
that you are better."

She spoke quite simply, and with just the warmth of manner one would
use to an intimate friend under similar circumstances.

He held out his hands and she laid both hers in his. Then she turned
and thanked the nurse who had vacated her chair, and sat down beside
the couch.

Dr. Gale was addressing the nurse. "Go out and take a walk," he was
saying. "I thought we should have rain this morning, but now the
clouds have disappeared and the sun is shining."

As they left the room together, Francis raised Philippa's hands and
kissed them, first one and then the other.

"The clouds have disappeared, and the sun is shinin