eir course. For a
moment she had an idea of sending her husband home, but after all what
could Bill do? There was not much chance of his being able to persuade
Philippa where she had failed, and, indeed, Bill had already made one
effort in that direction, and was by no means over-anxious to undertake
a second attempt to stem the torrent of a woman's will.

CHAPTER XIX

HALCYON DAYS

"Love keeps his revels where there are but twain."--_Venus and Adonis_.

Even Dr. Gale, who constantly preached caution lest strength should be
over-taxed, could find no fault with Francis' progress during these
halcyon days of happiness.

There was a wide terrace on the sunny side of the house, just below his
rooms, and there, whenever the weather permitted, he and Philippa would
spend the warmest morning hours.

Francis was carried down-stairs in obedience to the doctor's orders,
but once on the level he was allowed to walk a little. Leaning on her
arm he was able to accomplish the length of the house, but that had up
to the present been all that he had been equal to.

On two or three occasions they had driven in a low four-wheeled
pony-chaise for half-an-hour or so, but they had not yet ventured
beyond the confines of the park.

Francis had expressed no surprise at anything he had seen, indeed he
had not appeared to notice any particular details, but he had
repeatedly spoken of his delight in being out of doors again, and had
said that he was looking forward to the day when he should see Bessmoor
again.

During the early afternoon he rested, and she joined him again later,
to spend the remainder of the day with him in his sitting-room, which
now held for her so many associations.

There had been a time when she had wondered what they would find to
talk about, what line of conversation could be pursued with one whose
mentality was bounded by such extraordinary limitations; whose outlook
was that of a man, with a man's rational intelligence and
consciousness, hampered by the retrospective knowledge of a little
child.

For the first few days of their companionship she had indeed known
moments of perplexity, moments during which she had racked her brain
for a suitable remark, a new idea to interest him; for talk is
difficult between new acquaintances when such matters as politics,
literature and current events are taboo, and personalities are to be
avoided; but since her mental attitude towards him had changed and