‘Good-night,’ replied the tired voice, and he went away sorrowing. What was his life worth without her? Absolutely nothing. He had chosen to make this one delight, this one love, the all-in-all of existence. He went down into the garden with a moody dejected air and joined Lina, who was sitting in a spot where the view of the valley below and the height above was loveliest; but Lina was scarcely more cheerful than Edgar. She was beginning to feel seriously uneasy at Gerald’s absence. ‘You don’t think anything can have happened—any accident?’ she asked falteringly. ‘Do you mean that he can have tumbled off a precipice? Hardly likely. A man who has climbed Mont Blanc and the Jungfrau would scarcely come to grief hereabouts. I think the worst that has befallen him is to have lost his dinner.’ They sat in the garden till the valley and lake below were folded in darkness, and the moon was climbing high above the dark fir trees and the gray peak, and then Lina’s heart was lightened by the sound of a sympathetic tenor voice, whose every tone she knew, singing _La Donna e mobile_, in notes that floated nearer and nearer as the singer came up the grassy slope below the garden. She went to meet him. ‘My dear Gerald, I have been miserable about you.’ ‘Because I didn’t appear at dinner? Forgive me, dearest. The heat gave me a racking headache, and I thought a tremendous walk was the only way to cure it. I have been down to Montreux, and seen your father, who is pining for your return. He looked quite scared when I dashed into the garden where he was reading his paper on the terrace by the lake. I was not ten minutes at Montreux altogether.’ ‘Dear father! It was very good of you to go and see him.’ ‘It was only a peep. I’m sorry you felt fidgety about me.’ ‘I am sorry you had a headache. It seems an epidemic. Daphne was not able to appear at dinner for the same reason.’ ‘Poor little Daphne!’ * * * * * They were to start upon their return journey early next morning, so as to reach Montreux before the tropical heat of afternoon. They all breakfasted together in Madoline’s sitting-room between six and seven, Aunt Rhoda, who was a great advocate of early rising, looking much the sleepiest of the party. Daphne was pale and spiritless, but as she declared herself perfectly well nobody could say anything to her. They started at seven o’clock. There were two carriages; a roomy landau, and a vehicle of composite shape and long service for Mowser and the luggage. Daphne at once declared her intention of walking. ‘The walk downhill through fields and orchards and vineyards’ will be lovely,’ she said. ‘Delicious,’ exclaimed Edgar; ‘but don’t you think it is rather too far for a walk?’ ‘Are you too lazy to walk with me?’ ‘I don’t think you need insult me by such a question.’ On which Daphne set out without another word, waving her hand lightly to Madoline as she vanished at a turn in the road.