Next morning at eleven o'clock, Betty and Miles started to walk up to the Alliots' villa, leaving Jill and Will Gerard seated on the shore throwing pebbles into the sea, with every appearance of satisfaction with themselves, and their occupation. The path was steep but not very long, and at the entrance to the garden Mrs Alliot was strolling about, as if awaiting their arrival. She kissed Betty and patted her affectionately on the shoulder. "Cynthia is waiting for you. Run along to her, dear! I will follow with your brother, and hear some of his news," she said in a light tone which yet held a hint of command, and, when Betty disappeared, she turned in an opposite direction, so as to take the least direct path to the house. "I am sure your mother is delighted to have you back! It is delightful that you have been so successful in your work. We have been so interested in your adventures." The short conventional sentences were the only references made to Miles' own affairs, and then, as if in a hurry to get to the subject most on her mind, Mrs Alliot began to speak of her daughter. "You will be surprised to find Cynthia looking so well. She has put on flesh during the last few months, and the sea-air has given her a colour. Last winter she was painfully thin. It has been a long uphill struggle, but now at last we begin to see definite improvement. The doctors are confident that it will be a complete cure if we are very careful during the next two or three years. The great thing is to live in pure bracing air, and to keep her happy and cheerful. Anything that caused agitation or worry of any kind, would have a deleterious effect. She has a very sensitive nature, and things go deeply with her,--more deeply than with most girls. Her father and I hide all worries from her, even our anxiety about herself. We, and all the friends who love her, must unite in doing everything in our power to spare her during these all-important years. I know you will understand the position." "Yes," said Miles quietly, "I perfectly understand." He had grown very white beneath his tan, and Mrs Alliot, glancing swiftly at him, felt a pang of compunction. Poor young fellow, it was hard on him, if he really cared! Yet she had done no more than her duty in warning him that he could not be allowed to disturb Cynthia's peace of mind. So far, the girl was fancy free, but her interest in the return of her boy-friend was so strong that a word, a look, a hint of his own feeling might be sufficient to fan it into a stronger flame. "But now that I have spoken he knows how things are, and he is a good fellow! He will think of her before himself," said Cynthia's mother to herself with a sigh of relief.