"If he had apologized for his behaviour, I would very likely have forgiven him on condition he never offended in that way again, but his note was sentimental drivel, just flattering me, and saying that the earth could do better without the sun than he could without me, and he ended by saying he wanted to take me down the river for the day. Would I be kind and come? I sent a message by the maid to say that I was not well and was going to have a quiet day in my room. And then after I had heard him leave the flat, and angrily tell the maid he would not be in till late, it suddenly struck me what I could do! "In a few minutes I was out of bed and dressed, and had got to the nearest garage. I hired a car without thinking of where I was going. I only knew I must get away from it all. I remembered as I was going through the streets, that Waddy had a married sister in Wiltshire. She came to her funeral, and I thought for the sake of Waddy that she might take me in. And then, just as I came here, I ran into some trees half across the road. I'm not smashed up myself, perhaps it would be better for you and others if I were, but the car is an utter wreck, and I shall have to pay an awful sum at the garage, I suppose. I didn't know what to do, and then I thought of you. And if you can square it up with them now, I'll pay you back by instalments. If it takes a lifetime to do it, I will!" She glanced up at him feverishly. Thorold responded at once. "I'll write to them to-night, they must know, of course. Now what do you want to do?" There was silence. Gentian leant back against a very hard cushion and looked up at him gravely. "What do you advise me to do?" she said. "I think the best thing for you to do is to go to bed and have a good night's rest. You look as if you badly need it. I'll come round after breakfast, and if you feel fit, I'll take you to Mrs. Wharnecliffe, who is really anxious about you. She told me you had left off writing to her." "Oh, I haven't written to anyone—except perhaps you—and you haven't heard very often, have you?" "We'll talk over things to-morrow. I do not know whether you want to break entirely with these new friends of yours. But don't worry your head over them. Now I am going. Good night. The landlady says she has a comfortable bedroom for you." "Oh, what does it matter where I sleep! I'm only a plague and bother to all my friends. Good night. You're like one of your Cornish Tors—I wish—I wish I could be so immovably serene!" Thorold left her—and acting upon his advice, Gentian went up to her bedroom and got into an old-fashioned fourpost bed with a feather mattress. As she put down her head upon her pillow, she said to herself determinedly: