But the end was close upon them. He could not linger over the picture, even had he wished. As the last days slipped by his face saddened visibly. Lady Betty begged him to bear up. He was so changed in aspect that Alice could not fail to notice it. "There is no danger," he returned. "She has already spoken of it, and I have put it down to fatigue. She has seen how desperately I have been working for months on end, and she is satisfied I need rest." One day, he ventured to question Lady Betty about her plans, but she replied that they were vague. She only knew that she would travel for the present; she would not make up her mind as to details till the last moment. "But even then I should not tell you," she added, with a wan smile. "Our parting must be decisive. I shall read of your career, and my mind shall be always with you in your work; but I shall not cross your path again. There is one last thing I suggest. When you have finished the picture, let us spend the whole of our last day together." "I shall set it apart. We shall consecrate it with our farewell." "I shall give you the souvenir I promised. I shall keep it till the end; and then it will be goodbye." "Goodbye?" he breathed. "Oh, it is cruel!" He was shaken again. Some wild rebellion was rising in him, and vainly Lady Betty tried to calm him with pleading--even with tears. But she revealed only the more her own anguish. At last she had command of herself again, and put a stern inflection into her voice. "For Alice's sake you must conquer yourself. No, let it be for my sake. I put it as the test of your love for me. Otherwise I shall believe that your love is selfish." "I promise I shall conquer myself, but I must have time." "You make me terribly afraid--you may wound her by a chance word." "That is impossible. Her mind is serene--no word of mine shall disturb it." But Lady Betty's fears were by no means allayed. She wrote him long letters, imploring him to keep command of himself, else she would regret bitterly that they had ever met again. They had both fought this terrible battle: they were neither of them emerging unscathed, but their wounds and hurt were the price of honourable victory. She was sure of herself; but was he--the man!--to shrink back when the supreme moment came? The thought of loyal duty accomplished would bring equanimity hereafter.