They were very smart people, and it was a very smart luncheon: champagne, _pâte-de-foie en aspic_, liquers, and cigarettes on the lawn. A new _régime_ certainly for the kindly old Keep, where, as a boy, he had spent his holidays with his aunt, his mother's sister. Yes! a new _régime_, especially if the _chauffeurs_ were being similarly regaled downstairs! And what a fine old place it was! set so deep out of the way of the wind in a hollow of old pines and oaks, and yet so close to the sea that even now the hollow boom of the Atlantic waves sounded against the shrill voices of those smart women as a bassoon sounds against a violin. Ay! and in the winter sou'-westers, the rush and hush of the sea blent with the rush and hush of the leaves. He could imagine Betty Cam--h'm, that was Helen's fault for being so tragic! He looked round for her, and saw her talking to Dr. Ramsay. Ted also was well employed, hanging on Mr. Hirsch's lips as he spoke airily of bulls and bears. Ted, if he didn't take care, would become a zoologist also! So thought Ned Blackborough as he wandered away from the lawns that were still kept smooth and green, towards the wilderness of garden beyond. And the thought of money bringing the thought of Aura, he smiled, lit a cigar, and went still further afield to find a certain peach tree that used to have peaches on it. The others were happy, why should he not have his share of enjoyment? As a matter of fact, however, Helen and Dr. Ramsay were not enjoying themselves; at least _she_ was not, for he had met her assertion that the one wish of her life ("since my husband's death seven years ago," being interpolated with the usual note of resigned reverence in her voice) had been to be a hospital nurse, with a dubious shake of the head. "I wouldn't if I were you," he said slowly. "I rather doubt your being fit for it. One requires a lot of stamina." She stared at him almost haughtily. "But I am very strong, I assure you," she replied, with a smile of great tolerance, "I daresay I look pale--for the Cornish coast; but, oh! I am very strong!" "Physically, perhaps." His Scotch accent gave the qualification great precision. "Then, mentally----" she almost gasped. "Mentally, no," he replied quite calmly. "Excuse me," she remarked, "but I really do not think you know me well enough." "Do I not?" he remarked, his brown eyes smiling into hers; "you forget that I am a doctor, and, Mrs. Tressilian, your nervous system is at the present moment--mind you, it's no blame--in absolutely unstable equilibrium." "Unstable equilibrium! Really, Dr. Ramsay" "My dear lady," he said, "I have been thinking all lunchtime that if you would only allow yourself to be hypnotised, you would be clairvoyant. I shouldn't wonder if you would be able to project yourself! and think what that might mean! Why, you might give us a clue----" he paused quite excited. "And what has that to do with nursing?" she asked coldly.